Person

Barker, George Herbert (1880 - 1965)

Born
21 January 1880
Hunter's Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Died
25 June 1965
Windsor, Queensland, Australia
Occupation
Business executive and Ornithologist

Summary

George Barker was proprietor of Barkers Book Store in Brisbane, which he had originally started with his father in 1907, until his retirement in 1954. Because ornithology was one of his major interests the shop became a focal point for ornithology in Queensland. He was also a keen camper and organised several of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union campouts. Barker was a keen member of the Field Naturalists' Club of Queensland and its successor, the Queensland Naturalists' Club, serving several term as President, almost continuously on council from 1921 to 1955, and ten years as excursion secretary.

Details

Born Hunter's Hill, New South Wales, 21 January 1880. Died Windsor, Queensland, 25 June 1965. Educated Fort Street Model School. Angus and Robertson's bookshop 1897-1907; started Barker's Book Store with his father 1907 and worked there till he retired in 1954. The bookshop became a focal point for ornithology in Queensland. Secretary, Queensland branch, Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union 1922-56; foundation member (1924) and sometime president, Queensland Booksellers' Association; instrumental in forming Australian Booksellers' Association, president 1949-51; president, Field Naturalists' Club of Queensland 1920-21, Queensland Naturalists' Club 1935-36 and 1947-48; foundation treasurer, Queensland National Parks Association 1930-46; president, Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union 1940-41.

Chronology

1920 - 1921
Career position - President, Field Naturalists' Club of Queensland
1922 - 1956
Career position - Secretary, Queensland Branch, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
1930 - 1946
Career position - Foundation Treasurer, Queensland National Parks Association
1935 - 1936
Career position - President, Queensland Naturalists' Club
1940 - 1941
Career position - President, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
1947 - 1948
Career position - President, Queensland Naturalists' Club

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Books

  • Doolan, Ken, A Commanding Presence: the Life of G.H. Barker, Bookseller, Naturalist and Ornithologist (Canberra: Ginninderra Press, 2002), 206 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • 'In Memoriam: George Herbert Barker', Queensland Naturalist, 18 (1/2) (1966), 1-4. Details

Resources

See also

  • Marks, Elizabeth N., 'Seventy-five years of natural history', Queensland naturalist, 24 (1/4) (1983), 6-28. Details
  • Robin, Libby, The Flight of the Emu: a Hundred Years of Australian Ornithology 1901-2001 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2001), 492 pp. Details

Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn

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