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Prior to 1909 there was no official British government presence on South Georgia. Any official dealings were accomplished at Stanley, Falkland Islands or through the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.
From 1909 until 1969 a Magistrate represented the crown and the Governor of the Falkland Islands in South Georgia. Customs officers, constables, and other resident staff assisted the Magistrate in performing his duties.
With the demise of the whaling stations by 1965 the administration was transferred to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 1969. From 1969 until the Argentine Invasion in 1982 the resident head of the BAS was deputised as the resident Magistrate.
The magistrates were:
| J.I. Wilson | 20 November 1909 to 19 October 1914 |
| E.B. Binnie | 20 October 1914 to 1 April 1927 |
| F.B. Allison | 22 August 1927 to 24 November 1927 |
| W. Barlas - Killed by avalanche. | 27 September 1928 to 2 September 1941 |
| A.I. Fleuret | 17 April 1942 to 15 March 1951 |
| K.S. Pierce-Butler | 15 March 1951 to 19 April 1954 |
| R.E. Spivey | 20 April 1954 to 3 April 1957 |
| J.W. Matthew | 4 April 1957 to 25 June 1959 |
| D.J. Coleman | 26 June 1959 to 13 November 1969 |
Generally the Customs Officer deputised for the Magistrate while he was absent and between appointments.
Throughout this period the seat of administration has been at King Edward Point, across the cove from the Grytviken whaling station.
In the aftermath of the Argentine invasion in 1982 civil administration was suspended. The local garrison commander acted for the Falkland Islands’ government.
Since 1984 the garrison
commander at King Edward Point and the civilian Marine Officer serve as
the local administrators at South Georgia. The Governor of the Falkland
Islands is concurrently the Commissioner of South Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands. Several other officers of the Falkland Islands’ government concurrently
serve appointments as officers administering South Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands. The non-military population varies but averages 12 BAS staff members
during the winter.