The current premier is Jacinta Allan of the Labor Party, who assumed the office on 27 September 2023 following the resignation of Daniel Andrews.

The first meeting of the Legislative Council was on 11 November 1851, at St Patrick's Hall, Bourke Street West, with its primary focus the drafting of a constitution, for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's approval, to separate the Port Phillip District from New South Wales.

Responsible government was established in 1855, when the constitution was passed by the British Parliament and received royal assent.

Governor Charles Hotham appointed William Haines to be Victoria's first premier on 28 November 1855, with the first election, provided for by the Electoral Act 1856, organised the following year.

[8] A premier must hold a seat in the Legislative Assembly and have the support of a majority of lower house members.

[11] An outgoing premier will typically advise the governor to request they call on the Leader of the Opposition to form a government and to tender their and their ministers' resignation.

[11] When a premier loses an election, the Leader of the Opposition must assure the governor that they have majority support in the Legislative Assembly.

The National Cabinet was established on 13 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and replaced the Council of Australian Governments of which the premier was a member.

Six premiers, Daniel Andrews, Henry Bolte, John Cain Jr, Albert Dunstan, Rupert Hamer, and James McCulloch have done so, but four have had their statues completed.

Historians Paul Strangio and Brian J. Costar have suggested that this is likely due to McCulloch serving his terms before federation and/or non-consecutively.

[20] The statues, sculpted in bronze by Peter Corlett, were installed in September 1999 after premier Jeff Kennett instituted the policy.