Former South Australian premier Steele Hall dies aged 95

The former premier spent decades in politics at state and federal levels, with Peter Malinauskas saying he leaves behind a “reputation for integrity and political courage”.

Joan and Steele Hall at home in Wattle Park in 2017. Picture: Calum Robertson

Former South Australian Liberal premier Steele Hall has been remembered as “a legend of South Australian politics” following his death aged 95.

Mr Hall was premier from 1968-70, a South Australian Senator from 1974-77 and federal Boothby MP from 1981-1996.

He is the only Australian to serve as state premier as well as member of three legislatures.

Mr Hall, who died on Monday morning, was first elected to the House of Assembly as the Liberal and Country League (LCL) member for Gouger, a former seat covering Balaklava, at the 1959 state election.

He became leader of the party following the retirement of Sir Thomas Playford in July 1966 and led the Liberals to victory at the 1968 election.

SA politician Premier Steele Hall looking at model of proposed West Lakes housing and lake project near Grange in 1969.

Steele Hall at his office on Fullarton Road as a federal politicians in 1988, commenting on having crossed the floor to vote with the Labor Government on a motion on immigration.

During his time as premier, Mr Hall abolished the ‘Playmander’, which favoured the Liberals by giving rural seats disproportionate electoral power.

The reform put him at a disadvantage when an early election was called in 1970, and the Liberals lost government to Labor.

In 2018, he described the ‘Playmander’ to The Advertiser as “totally undemocratic, totally wrong”.

“We could not continue with the boundaries the way they were,” he said. “The changes we made in the electoral boundaries were immense and we knew that we were sacrificing government at the following election, but it had to be done.”

Mr Hall was also responsible for selecting the site of the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Following a trip to London, he walked along the Thames Embankment and saw the Royal Festival Theatre overlooking the river.

“When I came back Cabinet and the Adelaide City Council had approved a site in North Adelaide – the old Carclew property – for the theatre. I walked from the weir to the zoo and decided the theatre should be on the site of the old City Baths, where it stands today. We overturned the decision of the Cabinet and the Council,” he said in 2018.

Mr Hall, the father of six children, was married to Joan – who served for 13 years as a state MP – for more than 45 years.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said Mr Hall left behind a “reputation for integrity and political courage” and put South Australia ahead of party political interests.

“Steele Hall is rightly seen as a significant figure in the history of South Australian politics,” Mr Malinauskas said.

He described Mr Hall’s electoral reforms as “one of the bravest political moves in the state’s history”.

“He did so knowing it would be detrimental to himself and his own party,” Mr Malinauskas said.

He said a state funeral would be offered to the Hall family.

Former Liberal Premier John Olsen said Mr Hall made a remarkable contribution to South Australia.

“Steele Hall was a man of conviction and integrity,” he said.

“Who could forget the great Dam debate between Dartmouth and Chowilla in which his belief in Dartmouth saw the then Speaker Stott vote to bring down the Hall government.

“He did not relent. Dartmouth is now built, and Chowilla shelved.”

Deputy Opposition Leader John Gardner said Mr Hall was “a giant of South Australian politics and public life”.

“While electoral reform may be the enduring legacy for which Steele Hall is most widely remembered, his term in office saw significant progress in other areas including women’s health, Aboriginal affairs, and the fluoridation of South Australia’s water supply – a measure controversial at the time but which has led to significant dental health improvements for generations of South Australians,” he said.

Senator Simon Birmingham said the Adelaide Festival Centre exists due to Mr Hall’s foresight.

“Steele stands tall in the history of our state and the Liberal Party as a reformer, an orator and a man of principle willing to stand by his values,” he said.

At a lunch to celebrate Mr Hall’s 90th birthday in 2018, then-premier Steven Marshall paid tribute to Mr Hall.

“Some people are in politics for far too long, some people are at the top for far too short a time and, I think, Steele Hall unequivocally falls into that latter category,” Mr Marshall told the lunch.

Former premier Steele Hall with former premier Steven Marshall at the Adelaide Festival Centre for a 90th birthday lunch for Mr Hall. Supplied

Steele Hall, 65, when he was Federal member for Boothby, at his office on Marion Road in 1994.

Former politician and SA Premier Steele Hall at North Haven Marina where his 12m converted cray boat 'Sea Strike' was being fitted out.

“But if you look at the outcomes, per months served as a leader of a state or a nation, I think Steele Hall must be top of the list.”

Mr Marshall described Mr Hall as a modest person, saying this was a quality not abundant in politics.

“What we see now is politicians trying to claim responsibility for other people’s work. ‘It was me,’ they all say. We’ve never seen that from Steele Hall — just somebody who has genuinely worked diligently for the people of the state the whole time he’s been in politics,” he said.