Published Resources Details
Conference Paper
- Title
- George Barney re (1792-1862), first colonial engineer
- In
- Engineering Conference 1984: Conference Papers
- Imprint
- Institution of Engineers, Australia, Barton, Australian Capital Territory, 1984, pp. 13-17
- ISBN/ISSN
- 0858252155
- Url
- https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.610769572085703
- Abstract
On 11 December 1835 Captain George Barney RE arrived in Sydney to assume duties as Commanding Royal Engineer. Within a short time of his arrival, Governor Burke allotted him duties relating to the civil responsibilities of government. George Barney received the additional appointment of Colonial Engineer. His major projects included the construction of the breakwater at Newcastle; the breakwater and shipping basin at Wollongong and, Circular Quay, Victoria Barracks and Fort Denison in Sydney. After retirement from the Army he was appointed Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands in New South Wales, and, later Surveyor-General. He retired from public life in 1860 and died in 1862. This paper deals briefly with his early training and engineering experiences before coming to Australia, and then in some detail with his work in Australia, showing that he made a significant contribution to Australia's engineering heritage.