Walter Henry Barnes (7 September 1858 – 19 February 1933) was a longtime member of the

Queensland Legislative Assembly The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland established under the Constitution of Queensland. Elections are held every four years and are done by full preferential voting. The Assembly ...

Early years

Barnes was born in

Castlemaine, Victoria Castlemaine ( , Variation in Australian English, non-locally also ) is a small city in Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Goldfields region about 120 kilometres (75 miles) northwest by road from ...

, a son of Hiram Barnes, who took his family to Queensland when he was six years old. He gained employment in the saddler business, then worked as a driver for Cobb and Co. coaches. He next worked for the Post Office, then in 1884 joined his brother's firm of Barnes and Co. Ltd., produce and general merchants. He held the position of manager of the Roma Street business for very many years, and ultimately became managing director of the company.

Politics

For 25 years he was a member of the

Coorparoo Shire Council The Shire of Coorparoo is a former local government area of Queensland, Australia, located in eastern Brisbane. History The Bulimba Division was created on 11 November 1879 under the ''Divisional Boards Act 1879'' with a population of 2007. On ...

, of which body he was five times Chairman. He first entered Parliament in 1901 as member for

Bulimba Bulimba is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Bulimba had a population of 6,843 people. Geography Bulimba is located north-east of the CBD on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, but it is by road. Topo ...

, succeeding Sir James R. Dickson, who left State politics for Federal Parliament. With the exception of a break of three years, Barnes represented

and, later,

Wynnum Wynnum is a coastal suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Wynnum had a population of 12,915 people. The suburb is a popular destination in Brisbane due to its coastline, jetty and tidal wading pool. Geography Wynnu ...

, in the

until his death. His first office was that of Minister for Lands in the short-lived (19 November 1907 – 18 February 1908) Philp Ministry. Then, in the Kidston coalition Ministry, he served as Minister tor Public Instruction, and had the distinction of piloting the University of Queensland Bill through Parliament. In 1909 Mr. Barnes was allotted the combined portfolios of Public Works and Education, and in 1912 became Treasurer and Minister for Works in the Denham administration, and served as Acting Premier during Denham's absence in Great Britain. He again served as Treasurer in the Moore Administration. He was defeated in the contest for Bulimba in 1915, but was again returned at the general election of 1918, and later became the member for

Later life

Memorial to Walter Henry Barnes, Wynnum, 2014

Tablet, Memorial to Walter Henry Barnes, Wynnum, 2014

Barnes died at his home in

Coorparoo Coorparoo is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Coorparoo had a population of 16,282 people. Geography Coorparoo is by road south-east of the Brisbane GPO. It borders Camp Hill, Holland Park, Stones Corner ...

after suffering poor health for several months. He was accorded a State Funeral and buried in

South Brisbane Cemetery South Brisbane Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at 21 Fairfield Road and Annerley Road, Dutton Park, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, adjacent to the Brisbane River. It was built from 1870 to 1990s. It is also known as Dutton Par ...

. A memorial was erected to him on the Wynnum foreshore near the Wynnum Wading Pool.

Family

His brother

George Powell Barnes George Powell Barnes (20 September 1856 – 9 December 1949), generally referred to by his full name or as "George P. Barnes",Most likely to distinguish him in newspaper reports from his contemporary, the prominent British parliamentarian Geor ...

, who founded Barnes and Co., was also in politics, as the member for

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...

. He was married, and had one son, Cedric Barnes of Brisbane.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Walter Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly Deputy Premiers of Queensland 1858 births 1933 deaths Burials in South Brisbane Cemetery National Party (Queensland, 1917) members of the Parliament of Queensland