George Barney Monument

Lieutenant Colonel George Barney (1792-1862), Colonial Engineer George Barney, soldier and engineer, was born on 19 May 1792 at Wolverhampton, England. He arrived in Sydney on 11 December 1835 to take up duty as Commanding Royal Engineer and became one of the colony’s most important colonial engineers.

During his career in Sydney, Barney held the positions of:

• Commanding Royal Engineer 1835-43

• Colonial Engineer 1835-44

• Superintendent North Australia 1846-1847

• Chief Commissioner Crown Lands 1849-1855

• Surveyor General 1855-1859

Other positions held by Barney included Chairman of the Australian Gaslight Company, Trustee of the Savings Bank of New South Wales Barney, and Member of the Legislative Council from 1851 to 1859; he was a distinguished member of the colonial establishment.

During his term of office, he was responsible for fortifications, maritime and road works, and buildings. Among the most important were: fortifications at Middle, South Bradley’s and Georges Heads; Dawes Point Battery; Fort Denison; construction of Circular Quay including reclamation of the estuary of the Tank Stream - about 2.5 ha going back to Bridge Street, and enclosure of the Tank Stream; Argyle Cut; Newcastle Breakwater; Wollongong Harbour; grain silos on Cockatoo Island; powder magazine on Goat Island; Customs House; Garrison Church; Admiralty House; new Government House; and Victoria Barracks.

George Barney died in 1862 and was buried in St. Thomas’s Cemetery, now St. Thomas’s Rest Park, Cammeray, Sydney.