Belmore became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New South Wales on 8 January 1868 at a time when the position was not yet just a figurehead, but was still an imperial officer responsible to the British government.

Although Belmore did not see the incident, he arranged for Alfred's transfer to hospital for treatment and passed on to the colonial government the Prince's request for clemency for O'Farrell, which was ignored.

Belmore succeeded in having the Audit Act 1870 passed, which established the principle that government expenditure had to be authorised by appropriation through both houses of parliament, which had not been the practice until that time.

He found the Sydney summers oppressive and therefore rented Throsby Park, near Moss Vale, as his country house.

and sister of Sir Thomas Bateson, 1st Baron Deramore, on 22 August 1861 in St George's, Hanover Square, London.