George L. Barrow facts for kids

George Liversage Barrow (born May 1851, died August 1925) was an Australian journalist. He was known for his strong opinions and his dedication to speaking out about what he believed was right.

Early Life and Career

George Liversage Barrow was born in May 1851 in Bradford, England. His parents were John Henry Barrow and Sarah Barrow. In September 1853, when George was just two years old, his family moved to Australia. They traveled by ship with his three siblings.

George went to school at Mr. J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution. After school, he worked with government survey teams. However, he had a talent for writing, just like his father. This led him to become a journalist.

A Journalist with Strong Views

George was a clear and fast writer. But he always wanted to share his own opinions, even if they were unpopular. This made it hard for him to work for big city newspapers.

Around 1882, he became a sub-editor at the Port Adelaide News. Here, he showed great skill and made many friends. These friends included John Deslandes, James Haddy, Rev. J. C. Kirby, and the historian A. T. Saunders.

George was a strong supporter of "protectionism." This was an economic idea that supported local industries. He also admired a politician named Graham Berry. George was known for writing strongly against what he saw as government problems or scandals.

Challenges and New Beginnings

After some disagreements at the Port Adelaide News, George left the paper. He decided to start his own newspaper. This new paper soon joined with Charles McMullen's South Australian Times. George became the editor of this combined newspaper.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

In 1885, George faced a difficult situation. He wrote an article that criticized a politician named Samuel Tomkinson. The article suggested that Tomkinson might have acted unfairly regarding a planned railway. This railway was supposed to connect Port Augusta and Phillip Ponds, near Woomera.

Because of this article, George was found responsible for writing something very critical. He spent several months in the Adelaide Gaol (jail). However, many people still respected him. They felt that even if his writing was a bit too strong, he truly believed in what he wrote. Interestingly, the railway project he wrote about never actually happened.

Life After Jail

After being released from jail, George moved to Oakleigh, Victoria. His brother, John T. Barrow, had a business there. At the time, Melbourne was experiencing a "land boom." This meant that land prices were rising very quickly. George worked as a land agent for a couple of years.

He then started his own newspaper called The Oakleigh and Fern Tree Gully Times. He became very involved in helping the local community in Oakleigh. In 1891, he returned to Adelaide and worked for The News newspaper again.

Later Years and Legacy

Around 1894, George moved to Western Australia and lived there for a few years.

From about 1908, he lived in Fiji. In Fiji, he continued to be active in politics. He often criticized the government for its problems, especially how it treated the local people. He wrote several small books (pamphlets) to show these issues. He hoped that the government in England would see these problems and take action.

In 1923, George ran for election to Fiji's Legislative Council. In his final years, he lived alone in a quiet part of Fiji. He passed away in 1925, either in Nadroga or Nausori.

George Liversage Barrow was a very knowledgeable and skilled writer. He was always brave and ready to fight for what he believed was right. Even though his strong opinions sometimes made it hard to work with him, his friends admired his independence. He was known for being unselfish and always wanting to help others.