George Barney

George Barney (19 May 1792 – 16 April 1862) was a Royal Engineer officer and became Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of North Australia.

George Barney was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, the son of Joseph Barney, drawing master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, England, and Jane, née Chandler (Chambers, according to British sources). He entered the army at 16 as second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He served in the Peninsular War and for many years in the West Indies. He had several years experience of civil engineering in Jamaica. He was promoted to captain in 1825.

In July 1834, New South Wales Governor Richard Bourke asked that a civil engineer should be sent to Sydney to take charge of the construction of a large circular quay at Sydney Cove and other public works. Captain Barney was selected, and came to Sydney on the British Sovereign with his wife and three children in December 1835. He also brought a detachment of Royal Engineers, with instructions that he was also to take charge of and superintend the buildings belonging to the military, and convict departments.

Bourke stated in February 1836 that Barney was engaged in removing obstructions to the navigation of the Parramatta River, and asked that leave might be granted him to undertake the duty of colonial engineer at a salary of £500 a year plus travelling charges. This was granted in September 1837, and in 1838 Barney brought forward a scheme for the sale of the barracks in Sydney, as the land was now valuable; the proceeds to be used for new buildings at Sydney and Newcastle, New South Wales. In 1839 he prepared a report on the defence of the harbours in the colony and made various recommendations. The English authorities, however, declined to consider the question until they had received plans and estimates of the proposed work. Governor George Gipps supported Barney and with the aid of convict labour the preparing of the ground for the guns was begun in 1840. In January 1843 Gipps spoke very highly of Barney, but stated he had so many other duties it was scarcely possible for him to give the required attention to his colonial appointment.

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