Henry Barwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Henry Barwell
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| 28th Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 8 April 1920 – 16 April 1924 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | Sir Henry Galway Sir Archibald Weigall Sir Tom Bridges |
| Preceded by | Archibald Peake |
| Succeeded by | John Gunn |
| Leader of the Opposition in South Australia | |
| In office 16 April 1924 – 17 December 1925 |
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| Preceded by | John Gunn |
| Succeeded by | Richard L. Butler |
| Senator for South Australia | |
| In office 18 December 1925 – 22 March 1928 |
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| Preceded by | James O'Loghlin |
| Succeeded by | Albert Robinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 February 1877 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 30 September 1959 (aged 82) Unley Park, South Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Union, Liberal Federation (state) Nationalist (federal) |
Sir Henry Newman Barwell KCMG (born 26 February 1877, died 30 September 1959) was an important Australian politician. He served as the 28th Premier of South Australia, which is like being the leader of the state government.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry Barwell was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He went to St Peter's College and then studied law at the University of Adelaide. In 1899, he became a lawyer. He built a successful law practice in Adelaide. In 1902, he married Anne Webb in Clare, South Australia. They had four children together.
Political Career Highlights
Starting in State Politics
Henry Barwell began his political journey in 1915. He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for the area of Stanley. He was a member of the Liberal Union party. In parliament, he quickly became known as a strong conservative. People soon saw him as a future leader.
In 1917, Barwell became the Attorney-General of South Australia. He also became the Minister for Industry. These were important roles in the government led by Archibald Peake. During this time, the Liberal Union party faced challenges. Many of its supporters in rural areas left to form the Country Party.
Becoming Premier of South Australia
After Premier Peake passed away, Henry Barwell became the Premier of South Australia on 8 April 1920. Even though some voters found his political style a bit harsh, his party, the Liberal Union, won the 1921 election. This meant Barwell continued as Premier.
Controversial Ideas and Public Opinion
Barwell was not afraid to share his strong opinions. He once suggested bringing people from other countries to work in the hot northern parts of Australia. This idea went against the "White Australia Policy", which was very popular at the time. Many Australians, especially those in the Labor Party, strongly disagreed with him. Because of this, some opponents called him "Black Barwell" for the rest of his career.
Fixing the Railways
One of Barwell's big achievements as Premier was fixing the South Australian Railways. By 1922, the railways were in very bad shape. This put the state's money at risk. Barwell pushed for a large investment of £5 million to improve them. He also hired an expert from America, William Alfred Webb, to manage the changes. Barwell strongly supported Webb in running the railways like a business.
Even though the railways improved, they didn't become profitable. This was mainly due to the Great Depression and more people buying cars. However, a lasting memory from his time as Premier was the nickname given to new railcars: "Barwell's Bulls".
The Barwell Boys Scheme
In 1922, Barwell started the "South Australian Farm Apprenticeship Scheme". This plan aimed to bring 6,000 young men and boys from England to South Australia. The idea was to help replace the 6,000 South Australian soldiers lost in World War I. Barwell even traveled to England himself to help recruit these young people, who became known as the "Barwell Boys".
Many young people in England were looking for work. About 14,000 boys, mostly aged 15 to 17, applied for the scheme. While only about 1,700 "Barwell Boys" eventually came, the program was seen as a big success. Many of these young immigrants played important roles in developing South Australia.
Later Political Life
While in London for the "Barwell Boys" scheme, Henry Barwell received a special honor. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1922. This is a high award in the British honours system.
When he returned to South Australia, his government was becoming less popular. This was partly because of his policies to limit government spending and control wages. There was also still some anger about his earlier comments on bringing in outside labor.
In the 1924 election, Barwell's party lost to the Labor Party, led by John Gunn. After a short time as the Opposition Leader, Barwell left state parliament. He hoped to become Prime Minister by winning a seat in the Australian House of Representatives.
He didn't immediately get a seat in the lower house. Instead, in 1925, he was appointed to the Senate. He filled a vacancy after Senator James O'Loghlin passed away.
Barwell served in the Senate until 1928, representing the Nationalist Party of Australia. He often disagreed with his own party members because he was very outspoken and independent. Realizing he wouldn't become Prime Minister, Barwell left the Senate. He accepted a new role as South Australia's Agent-General in London.
He worked as Agent-General until 1933. In this role, he helped prepare for important trade agreements within the British Empire. The Times newspaper described him as a "strong Imperialist with a practical outlook". Barwell strongly believed in fair trade between countries in the Empire.
After Politics
After his time as Agent-General, Barwell stayed in London for a while. He worked in various businesses. In 1940, he returned to Adelaide. He tried to get back into politics in his old area of Stanley, but he was not chosen.
As he grew older, Barwell became increasingly deaf. For fifteen years, he served as Deputy Chairman of the South Australian Housing Trust. He passed away in 1959.
Sporting Achievements
Sir Henry Barwell was a very skilled lawn bowler. He even represented Australia in lawn bowls at the 1934 British Empire Games.
