Life and Work in Australia
Barry emigrated to Australia, arriving in April 1837 and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar. After a short stay in Sydney Barry went to Melbourne, arriving at the new Port Phillip Settlement on 13 November 1839, a city with which he was ever afterwards closely identified. After practicing his profession for some years, he became commissioner of the Court of Requests, and after the creation in 1851 of the colony of Victoria, out of the Port Phillip district of New South Wales, was the first Solicitor-General, with a seat in the Legislative Council and a member of the Executive Council. In 1852 he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He also served as acting Chief Justice and Administrator of the government.
Barry was noted for his service to the community, and convinced the state government to spend money on public works, particularly education. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (1848), the University of Melbourne (1853), and the State Library of Victoria (1854). He served as the first chancellor of the university until his death, and was president of the trustees of the State Library.
Barry was the judge for the Eureka Stockade treason trials in the Supreme Court in 1855. The thirteen miners were all acquitted.
He represented Victoria at the London International Exhibition of 1862 and at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876. He was made a knight bachelor in 1860, and was created a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1877.
Read more about this topic: Redmond Barry
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