The McGowen ministry was the 34th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 18th Premier, the Honourable James McGowen, JP, MLA. This ministry marks the first Labor ministry in the state of New South Wales. McGowen was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1891, serving until 1917, before being appointed to the Legislative Council. He succeeded in defeating the government of Charles Wade at the 1910 state election and was commissioned to form government by Lord Chelmsford, Governor of New South Wales.