Barnet, James Johnstone

James Barnet was born at Almericlose in Scotland in 1827, the son of Thomas Barnet, builder, and his wife Mary. He was educated at a local school, and in 1843 was apprenticed to a builder in London. Following his apprenticeship, Barnet studied drawing and design, and architecture, and became clerk of works of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.

On 22 July 1854 Barnet married Amy Gosling and the couple almost immediately set sail for Sydney, arriving in December. After some minor employment in building he was engaged as clerk of works at Sydney University, under the newly appointed University Architect, Edmund Blacket. In 1860 Barnet joined the office of the Colonial Architect and by 1865 had become its head, after acting in the position for over two years.

Barnet remained as Colonial Architect until the office was reorganised in 1890, during this period he was responsible for many of the most significant public buildings built in New South Wales. These included a new wing of the Australian Museum, the General Post Office, the Colonial Secretary's Office, the Public Works and Lands Departments building, Customs House, the Public Library, the Medical School at Sydney University, and the Callan Park Lunatic Asylum. His other works included defence works, for which he was given responsibility in 1870, at Port Jackson, Botany Bay and Newcastle; numerous court-houses, lock-ups, police stations and post offices; and several lighthouses, including Macquarie Lighthouse on South Head. Barnet was given responsibility for arrangements for the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Sydney in 1868, and in 1879 was put in charge of the design and erection of buildings for the International Exhibition to be held in Sydney that year, the so-called 'Garden Palace'.

In 1889 responsibility for defence works was taken away from the Colonial Architect and given to a new military works branch of the Public Works department. The head of the branch, Lieut.-Col. F. R. de Wolski was an outspoken critic of Barnet's competence and relationships between the two offices rapidly deteriorated. In July 1890 a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the defense works being carried out on Bare Island in Botany Bay. Barnet was found guilty of gross indifference towards his duties and of being insubordinate to the Minister for Public Works. The Minister saved him from any further punishment, but this censure effectively put an end to Barnet's career.

Barnet died on 16 December 1904 and was interred at Rookwood cemetery. He was survived by three sons and four daughters.

Sources:
(1) Pike, D. (ed.), "Australian Dictionary of Biography",
vol. 3, 1851-1890 A-C, Melbourne, 1969.