Mr Hurley was governor of NSW from 2014 until earlier this year. Before that, he served for more than four decades in the Australian Army, including three years as Defence Force chief.

He will be sworn in as governor-general at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday, taking over from Sir Peter who held the role for five years.

Earlier this year, Mr Hurley used an Australia Day speech to call for more of a focus on indigenous languages in schools.

He has previously urged people to look beyond his military background after criticism that three of the last four governor-generals were retired army generals.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison picked Mr Hurley for the role in December.

"General Hurley is known for looking people straight in the eye. Not up and not down. He was that way with those he led in the military and he's been that way as a governor and throughout his life," Mr Morrison said at the time.

The governor-general is appointed by the Queen in Commonwealth countries, on the advice of the prime minister, to be the Crown's representative.

Australian Associated Press