AGY-3065 | Colonial Engineer

Full description

On 1 January 1836, Captain George Barney of the Royal Engineers was appointed Colonial Engineer.(1) Barney was appointed to the position which was newly created because of the inefficient way in which public works were being carried out by contractors. His services were required for several major works, in particular the formation of a Circular Quay in Sydney Cove, the construction of a Breakwater at Newcastle (begun earlier but little progressed), the formation of Pier Harbours at Wollongong and other parts of the coast and the removal of obstacles in the channel of the Parramatta River.(2)

From December 1836, responsibility for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges throughout the Colony was transferred from the Surveyor General to the Colonial Engineer. During this time, George Barney was also Commanding Royal Engineer and the duties of this position included construction of buildings for the convict establishment.

In 1838, the work carried out by the Department of the Colonial Engineer was supervised by the Engineer, subalterns, and a single Clerk of the Works.(3)

In January 1843, Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon replaced George Barney as commander of the Royal Engineers Department, although Barney retained the position of Colonial Engineer. The Legislative Council did not approve the salary of the Colonial Engineer after December 1843 and the position ceased to exist after 31 December. Gordon in his capacity as Commanding Royal Engineer continued many of the Colonial Engineer’s duties after this time.(4) From 1844, the duties of superintendent of roads, bridges, wharves, and quays were added to those of the Colonial Architect.


Note: There appears to have been a Colonial Engineer by appointed by the Governor by 1821. This office appears to have continued until 1825. (5) The Returns of the Colony [of NSW] (which commenced in 1822) do not list the Colonial Engineer under the establishment until 1836. Continuity of the office could not be verified and we have taken the office to commence in 1836.

ENDNOTES
1. Returns of the Colony, 1836. The Colonial Engineer’s position appears to be different to that of the Chief Engineer occupied by Druitt and others.
2. Returns of the Colony, 1836. CGS 1286 [4/267]
3. Historical Records of Australia, series 1, vol.19, p482.
4. Concise Guide to the NSW archives, Colonial Engineer
5. McMartin, Arthur 'Public Servant and Patronage: The foundation and rise of the New South Wales Public Service, 1786-1859'. Sydney University Press 1983 p. 49