1

The Private Love Affair of a Very Public Servant

The improper relationship between a Judge and his paramour ndash

a study of class divide in 19th century Melbourne

Penny Mears

Figure 1 Sir Redmond Barry 1813-1880 Figure 2 Louisa Bridget Barrow 1823-1889

Sir Redmond Barry the High Court Judge who presided over the Eureka

Stockade trials and the trial of Ned Kelly was instrumental in the establishment

of many of the Institutions that form the basis of the educational and cultural life

Melbourne enjoys today The results of his intellectual and philanthropic

endeavours in the mid-nineteenth century were said to be visible from whichever

direction its citizens chose to gaze and that no other city in Australia ldquohad a

benefactor to compare with Redmond Barryrdquo1 He was however a benefactor

with a secret and morganatic wife2

A Gentleman arrives in the Colony

The Anglo-Celtic Barry family

were landed gentry whose Irish estate

Ballyclough House was located in County

Cork As the youngest son Redmond

would not inherit the family estate He

attended Trinity College Dublin and was

admitted to the Irish Bar in 1838 Limited

career options in England and Ireland

prompted his decision to immigrate to

Australia

When the twenty-six year old

barrister sailed up the Yarra River in

November 1839 Victoria was part of the

colony of New South Wales and Melbourne

a fledgling town of four thousand people3

He quickly established himself in legal and

social circles mixing with the elite in

politics and society Following separation

from New South Wales Redmond Barry

was appointed the first Solicitor General in

the new State of Victoria in 1851 and the

following year was elevated to the bench of

the Supreme Court of Victoria4

2

Civic Patron and Philanthropist

The Illustrated Australian News in a

series of portraits of prominent Victorians

in 1872 wrote that Redmond Barry

ldquoworked hard to improve the public taste

and elevate the educational standard of the

communityrdquo stating that from as early as

1840 he lectured on subjects as diverse as

agriculture architecture sculpture

paintings music and poetry5 He initiated

the establishment of and remained

involved with the Boards and Committees

of the State Library the Art Gallery

Museum the Melbourne Hospital and the

University of Melbourne He was appointed

as the Universityrsquos first Chancellor

remaining in that position until his death in

18806

Figure 3 Chancellor Redmond Barry

c1870 State Library Victoria Image H96160140

Upholding onersquos social class and

family name was important for someone

with Redmond Barryrsquos background

Redmond Barry was not a wealthy man His

judicial salary was his only income yet as

part of the establishment his upper class

heritage separated him from rich colonists

and land owners In nineteenth century

Victoria class could not be bought with

money or land so that ldquogentility more than

any other quality distinguished good

societyhelliprdquo7

Love and a Scandalous Domestic

Arrangement

Redmond Barry was a bachelor with

a reputation Hersquod had an unfortunate affair

with a married woman on board ship to

Australia and simply wrote only the ladyrsquos

initial in his diary when recording his many

liaisons with his female callers8 The name

Louisa appears in his day book for the first

time in 1846 Mrs Louisa Barrow was a

married Irish Catholic woman with a low

social position and a three year old

daughter Mary Ellen Her husband Patrick

left both Louisa and Melbourne in 1847

and died in 1859 in South Australia9

Redmond and Louisarsquos relationship

developed into a caring and loving bond

lasting until Barryrsquos death in 1880

Women outnumbered men by seven

to one in Victoria in the 1840s10 Adhering

to class and social codes was paramount

when selecting a marriage partner in the

nineteenth century the rule being that lsquolike

married likersquo comprising class religion

and nationality11 Although they neither

married nor cohabited Redmond provided

for Louisa and acknowledged their four

children Nicholas (b 1847) Eliza (b

1850) George (b 1856) and Frederick

(b1859) He kept Louisa and his children

a secret from his English relatives until his

death the irony being that for a man so

proud of his lineage and the Barry name

that name died with Redmond as he was the

only one of his brothers to produce sons12

The colony had a shortage of

women of marriageable age upper class

women fewer still This left men with

limited options either remain a bachelor

return to England to find a suitable wife or

3

marry out of their class - the latter option

having detrimental social implications

Paul de Serville quotes the example of a

cultured and genial man being befriended at

one of the gentlemenrsquos clubs When invited

to his home the visitor is shocked to find

that his wife ldquodrops her hrsquos eats peas with

her knife and errs in various little waysrdquo

This was not a rare example as the writer is

quick to reassure the reader that he referred

to no-one in particular however fears ldquoat

least a dozen of my acquaintances will think

I am writing of themrdquo13

Figure 4 Sir Redmond Barry Statue

State Library Victoria Image H39357111

Their relationship was on Barryrsquos

terms he expected Louisa to visit him at

home whenever he was available in the

evening His letters and short notes were

tender addressing her as lsquomy dearest girlrsquo

lsquomy own loversquo lsquomy darlingrsquo and lsquomy own

dear darling loversquo14 They reveal a

domestic relationship with desire

arguments and making up Many are two or

three lines such as ldquoMy dearest girl Are

you well I cannot see you until

Thursdayrdquo15 In another written on 29

September 1860 he claims to be ldquocontrite

for my sins and will submit to any amount

of scolding you must have in store for me

Come tomorrow early when I can tell you

more than I can now writerdquo16

Figure 5 Notes to Mrs Barrow Redmond Barry Papers SLV 15 Aug 2015

4

In 1866 Redmond bought a 114

acre property in Syndal to the east of

Melbourne which he named lsquoSabine

Farmrsquo This isolated property allowed

Redmond Louisa and their children to

spend happy family time together in

privacy away from the gossip in

Melbourne17 He later purchased a

neighbouring property lsquoSt Johnrsquos Woodrsquo

for Louisa and the children This property

was a working farm with a large homestead

and outbuildings providing full time

employment for Nicholas who managed

both properties18

Although committed to Louisa

Redmond Barry was not prepared to forego

his professional and social standing within

Melbourne society He was created Knight

Bachelor (KB) in 1860 and then Knight

Companion of the Order of St Michael and

St George (KCMG) in 187719 As a Judge

and Knight of the Realm he was mindful of

the distinct relationship between ldquoprivate

ethics and public behaviourrdquo that was

enshrined in law and also a reflection of

Victorian morals and principals20

His friend George Higinbotham

another Anglo-Irish barrister who became

Victorian Attorney General and a High

Court Judge had married beneath his class

Because his wife was not accepted in

society he refused invitations where she

was not welcome Redmond Barry

however enjoyed the best of both domestic

and social worlds although his private life

created gossip

It was reported that the Anglican

Bishop Charles Perry wrote to Barry ldquothat

the state of concubinage in which he has

been living for some years is against the

public morality and suggested that he must

marry the ladyrdquo21 Perryrsquos criticism of

Barryrsquos affair with Mrs Barrow resulted in

this entry in Barryrsquos diary in September

1860 ldquoBishop told me he must decline

further intimacy with merdquo22

Life Death and Legacies

Sir Redmond demonstrated his

devotion to Louisa and their children by

making her sole beneficiary of his will

naming her and Nicholas as executors

Although not wealthy he left as estate of

approximately 10000 pounds23

Figure 6 Barry Probate Document - Public Records Office Victoria 15 August 2015

5

Figure 7 - Mrs Barrow Death Notice - Table Talk Trove 15 August 2014

When Louisa died in 1889 the

social magazine Table Talk recorded her

passing referring to her as the ldquomorganatic

wiferdquo of Sir Redmond Barry24 If their

relationship had been secret during Barryrsquos

lifetime it was certainly in the public

domain after her death He did not give her

his name however by appointing her

beneficiary of his estate Sir Redmond

acknowledged her role in his life

History is full of silences and none

is more silent than the story of a woman like

Louisa Barrow her gender and lower class

status denying her a voice As the mistress

of a high profile citizen Louisa was not part

of respectable society yet she left an estate

of land and property raised five children

and was part of the history of Melbourne 25

His significant headstone in Melbourne

Cemetery pays tribute to the man Redmond

Barry and his contribution to the city of

Melbourne yet there is no mention of

Louisa who was buried with him following

her death in 188826

The ultimate silence

Figure 8 Headstone and resting place of both Redmond Barry and Louisa Barrow - Melbourne Cemetery (Monument Australia ndash

permission to print and display for research or study)

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

2

Civic Patron and Philanthropist

The Illustrated Australian News in a

series of portraits of prominent Victorians

in 1872 wrote that Redmond Barry

ldquoworked hard to improve the public taste

and elevate the educational standard of the

communityrdquo stating that from as early as

1840 he lectured on subjects as diverse as

agriculture architecture sculpture

paintings music and poetry5 He initiated

the establishment of and remained

involved with the Boards and Committees

of the State Library the Art Gallery

Museum the Melbourne Hospital and the

University of Melbourne He was appointed

as the Universityrsquos first Chancellor

remaining in that position until his death in

18806

Figure 3 Chancellor Redmond Barry

c1870 State Library Victoria Image H96160140

Upholding onersquos social class and

family name was important for someone

with Redmond Barryrsquos background

Redmond Barry was not a wealthy man His

judicial salary was his only income yet as

part of the establishment his upper class

heritage separated him from rich colonists

and land owners In nineteenth century

Victoria class could not be bought with

money or land so that ldquogentility more than

any other quality distinguished good

societyhelliprdquo7

Love and a Scandalous Domestic

Arrangement

Redmond Barry was a bachelor with

a reputation Hersquod had an unfortunate affair

with a married woman on board ship to

Australia and simply wrote only the ladyrsquos

initial in his diary when recording his many

liaisons with his female callers8 The name

Louisa appears in his day book for the first

time in 1846 Mrs Louisa Barrow was a

married Irish Catholic woman with a low

social position and a three year old

daughter Mary Ellen Her husband Patrick

left both Louisa and Melbourne in 1847

and died in 1859 in South Australia9

Redmond and Louisarsquos relationship

developed into a caring and loving bond

lasting until Barryrsquos death in 1880

Women outnumbered men by seven

to one in Victoria in the 1840s10 Adhering

to class and social codes was paramount

when selecting a marriage partner in the

nineteenth century the rule being that lsquolike

married likersquo comprising class religion

and nationality11 Although they neither

married nor cohabited Redmond provided

for Louisa and acknowledged their four

children Nicholas (b 1847) Eliza (b

1850) George (b 1856) and Frederick

(b1859) He kept Louisa and his children

a secret from his English relatives until his

death the irony being that for a man so

proud of his lineage and the Barry name

that name died with Redmond as he was the

only one of his brothers to produce sons12

The colony had a shortage of

women of marriageable age upper class

women fewer still This left men with

limited options either remain a bachelor

return to England to find a suitable wife or

3

marry out of their class - the latter option

having detrimental social implications

Paul de Serville quotes the example of a

cultured and genial man being befriended at

one of the gentlemenrsquos clubs When invited

to his home the visitor is shocked to find

that his wife ldquodrops her hrsquos eats peas with

her knife and errs in various little waysrdquo

This was not a rare example as the writer is

quick to reassure the reader that he referred

to no-one in particular however fears ldquoat

least a dozen of my acquaintances will think

I am writing of themrdquo13

Figure 4 Sir Redmond Barry Statue

State Library Victoria Image H39357111

Their relationship was on Barryrsquos

terms he expected Louisa to visit him at

home whenever he was available in the

evening His letters and short notes were

tender addressing her as lsquomy dearest girlrsquo

lsquomy own loversquo lsquomy darlingrsquo and lsquomy own

dear darling loversquo14 They reveal a

domestic relationship with desire

arguments and making up Many are two or

three lines such as ldquoMy dearest girl Are

you well I cannot see you until

Thursdayrdquo15 In another written on 29

September 1860 he claims to be ldquocontrite

for my sins and will submit to any amount

of scolding you must have in store for me

Come tomorrow early when I can tell you

more than I can now writerdquo16

Figure 5 Notes to Mrs Barrow Redmond Barry Papers SLV 15 Aug 2015

4

In 1866 Redmond bought a 114

acre property in Syndal to the east of

Melbourne which he named lsquoSabine

Farmrsquo This isolated property allowed

Redmond Louisa and their children to

spend happy family time together in

privacy away from the gossip in

Melbourne17 He later purchased a

neighbouring property lsquoSt Johnrsquos Woodrsquo

for Louisa and the children This property

was a working farm with a large homestead

and outbuildings providing full time

employment for Nicholas who managed

both properties18

Although committed to Louisa

Redmond Barry was not prepared to forego

his professional and social standing within

Melbourne society He was created Knight

Bachelor (KB) in 1860 and then Knight

Companion of the Order of St Michael and

St George (KCMG) in 187719 As a Judge

and Knight of the Realm he was mindful of

the distinct relationship between ldquoprivate

ethics and public behaviourrdquo that was

enshrined in law and also a reflection of

Victorian morals and principals20

His friend George Higinbotham

another Anglo-Irish barrister who became

Victorian Attorney General and a High

Court Judge had married beneath his class

Because his wife was not accepted in

society he refused invitations where she

was not welcome Redmond Barry

however enjoyed the best of both domestic

and social worlds although his private life

created gossip

It was reported that the Anglican

Bishop Charles Perry wrote to Barry ldquothat

the state of concubinage in which he has

been living for some years is against the

public morality and suggested that he must

marry the ladyrdquo21 Perryrsquos criticism of

Barryrsquos affair with Mrs Barrow resulted in

this entry in Barryrsquos diary in September

1860 ldquoBishop told me he must decline

further intimacy with merdquo22

Life Death and Legacies

Sir Redmond demonstrated his

devotion to Louisa and their children by

making her sole beneficiary of his will

naming her and Nicholas as executors

Although not wealthy he left as estate of

approximately 10000 pounds23

Figure 6 Barry Probate Document - Public Records Office Victoria 15 August 2015

5

Figure 7 - Mrs Barrow Death Notice - Table Talk Trove 15 August 2014

When Louisa died in 1889 the

social magazine Table Talk recorded her

passing referring to her as the ldquomorganatic

wiferdquo of Sir Redmond Barry24 If their

relationship had been secret during Barryrsquos

lifetime it was certainly in the public

domain after her death He did not give her

his name however by appointing her

beneficiary of his estate Sir Redmond

acknowledged her role in his life

History is full of silences and none

is more silent than the story of a woman like

Louisa Barrow her gender and lower class

status denying her a voice As the mistress

of a high profile citizen Louisa was not part

of respectable society yet she left an estate

of land and property raised five children

and was part of the history of Melbourne 25

His significant headstone in Melbourne

Cemetery pays tribute to the man Redmond

Barry and his contribution to the city of

Melbourne yet there is no mention of

Louisa who was buried with him following

her death in 188826

The ultimate silence

Figure 8 Headstone and resting place of both Redmond Barry and Louisa Barrow - Melbourne Cemetery (Monument Australia ndash

permission to print and display for research or study)

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

3

marry out of their class - the latter option

having detrimental social implications

Paul de Serville quotes the example of a

cultured and genial man being befriended at

one of the gentlemenrsquos clubs When invited

to his home the visitor is shocked to find

that his wife ldquodrops her hrsquos eats peas with

her knife and errs in various little waysrdquo

This was not a rare example as the writer is

quick to reassure the reader that he referred

to no-one in particular however fears ldquoat

least a dozen of my acquaintances will think

I am writing of themrdquo13

Figure 4 Sir Redmond Barry Statue

State Library Victoria Image H39357111

Their relationship was on Barryrsquos

terms he expected Louisa to visit him at

home whenever he was available in the

evening His letters and short notes were

tender addressing her as lsquomy dearest girlrsquo

lsquomy own loversquo lsquomy darlingrsquo and lsquomy own

dear darling loversquo14 They reveal a

domestic relationship with desire

arguments and making up Many are two or

three lines such as ldquoMy dearest girl Are

you well I cannot see you until

Thursdayrdquo15 In another written on 29

September 1860 he claims to be ldquocontrite

for my sins and will submit to any amount

of scolding you must have in store for me

Come tomorrow early when I can tell you

more than I can now writerdquo16

Figure 5 Notes to Mrs Barrow Redmond Barry Papers SLV 15 Aug 2015

4

In 1866 Redmond bought a 114

acre property in Syndal to the east of

Melbourne which he named lsquoSabine

Farmrsquo This isolated property allowed

Redmond Louisa and their children to

spend happy family time together in

privacy away from the gossip in

Melbourne17 He later purchased a

neighbouring property lsquoSt Johnrsquos Woodrsquo

for Louisa and the children This property

was a working farm with a large homestead

and outbuildings providing full time

employment for Nicholas who managed

both properties18

Although committed to Louisa

Redmond Barry was not prepared to forego

his professional and social standing within

Melbourne society He was created Knight

Bachelor (KB) in 1860 and then Knight

Companion of the Order of St Michael and

St George (KCMG) in 187719 As a Judge

and Knight of the Realm he was mindful of

the distinct relationship between ldquoprivate

ethics and public behaviourrdquo that was

enshrined in law and also a reflection of

Victorian morals and principals20

His friend George Higinbotham

another Anglo-Irish barrister who became

Victorian Attorney General and a High

Court Judge had married beneath his class

Because his wife was not accepted in

society he refused invitations where she

was not welcome Redmond Barry

however enjoyed the best of both domestic

and social worlds although his private life

created gossip

It was reported that the Anglican

Bishop Charles Perry wrote to Barry ldquothat

the state of concubinage in which he has

been living for some years is against the

public morality and suggested that he must

marry the ladyrdquo21 Perryrsquos criticism of

Barryrsquos affair with Mrs Barrow resulted in

this entry in Barryrsquos diary in September

1860 ldquoBishop told me he must decline

further intimacy with merdquo22

Life Death and Legacies

Sir Redmond demonstrated his

devotion to Louisa and their children by

making her sole beneficiary of his will

naming her and Nicholas as executors

Although not wealthy he left as estate of

approximately 10000 pounds23

Figure 6 Barry Probate Document - Public Records Office Victoria 15 August 2015

5

Figure 7 - Mrs Barrow Death Notice - Table Talk Trove 15 August 2014

When Louisa died in 1889 the

social magazine Table Talk recorded her

passing referring to her as the ldquomorganatic

wiferdquo of Sir Redmond Barry24 If their

relationship had been secret during Barryrsquos

lifetime it was certainly in the public

domain after her death He did not give her

his name however by appointing her

beneficiary of his estate Sir Redmond

acknowledged her role in his life

History is full of silences and none

is more silent than the story of a woman like

Louisa Barrow her gender and lower class

status denying her a voice As the mistress

of a high profile citizen Louisa was not part

of respectable society yet she left an estate

of land and property raised five children

and was part of the history of Melbourne 25

His significant headstone in Melbourne

Cemetery pays tribute to the man Redmond

Barry and his contribution to the city of

Melbourne yet there is no mention of

Louisa who was buried with him following

her death in 188826

The ultimate silence

Figure 8 Headstone and resting place of both Redmond Barry and Louisa Barrow - Melbourne Cemetery (Monument Australia ndash

permission to print and display for research or study)

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

4

In 1866 Redmond bought a 114

acre property in Syndal to the east of

Melbourne which he named lsquoSabine

Farmrsquo This isolated property allowed

Redmond Louisa and their children to

spend happy family time together in

privacy away from the gossip in

Melbourne17 He later purchased a

neighbouring property lsquoSt Johnrsquos Woodrsquo

for Louisa and the children This property

was a working farm with a large homestead

and outbuildings providing full time

employment for Nicholas who managed

both properties18

Although committed to Louisa

Redmond Barry was not prepared to forego

his professional and social standing within

Melbourne society He was created Knight

Bachelor (KB) in 1860 and then Knight

Companion of the Order of St Michael and

St George (KCMG) in 187719 As a Judge

and Knight of the Realm he was mindful of

the distinct relationship between ldquoprivate

ethics and public behaviourrdquo that was

enshrined in law and also a reflection of

Victorian morals and principals20

His friend George Higinbotham

another Anglo-Irish barrister who became

Victorian Attorney General and a High

Court Judge had married beneath his class

Because his wife was not accepted in

society he refused invitations where she

was not welcome Redmond Barry

however enjoyed the best of both domestic

and social worlds although his private life

created gossip

It was reported that the Anglican

Bishop Charles Perry wrote to Barry ldquothat

the state of concubinage in which he has

been living for some years is against the

public morality and suggested that he must

marry the ladyrdquo21 Perryrsquos criticism of

Barryrsquos affair with Mrs Barrow resulted in

this entry in Barryrsquos diary in September

1860 ldquoBishop told me he must decline

further intimacy with merdquo22

Life Death and Legacies

Sir Redmond demonstrated his

devotion to Louisa and their children by

making her sole beneficiary of his will

naming her and Nicholas as executors

Although not wealthy he left as estate of

approximately 10000 pounds23

Figure 6 Barry Probate Document - Public Records Office Victoria 15 August 2015

5

Figure 7 - Mrs Barrow Death Notice - Table Talk Trove 15 August 2014

When Louisa died in 1889 the

social magazine Table Talk recorded her

passing referring to her as the ldquomorganatic

wiferdquo of Sir Redmond Barry24 If their

relationship had been secret during Barryrsquos

lifetime it was certainly in the public

domain after her death He did not give her

his name however by appointing her

beneficiary of his estate Sir Redmond

acknowledged her role in his life

History is full of silences and none

is more silent than the story of a woman like

Louisa Barrow her gender and lower class

status denying her a voice As the mistress

of a high profile citizen Louisa was not part

of respectable society yet she left an estate

of land and property raised five children

and was part of the history of Melbourne 25

His significant headstone in Melbourne

Cemetery pays tribute to the man Redmond

Barry and his contribution to the city of

Melbourne yet there is no mention of

Louisa who was buried with him following

her death in 188826

The ultimate silence

Figure 8 Headstone and resting place of both Redmond Barry and Louisa Barrow - Melbourne Cemetery (Monument Australia ndash

permission to print and display for research or study)

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

5

Figure 7 - Mrs Barrow Death Notice - Table Talk Trove 15 August 2014

When Louisa died in 1889 the

social magazine Table Talk recorded her

passing referring to her as the ldquomorganatic

wiferdquo of Sir Redmond Barry24 If their

relationship had been secret during Barryrsquos

lifetime it was certainly in the public

domain after her death He did not give her

his name however by appointing her

beneficiary of his estate Sir Redmond

acknowledged her role in his life

History is full of silences and none

is more silent than the story of a woman like

Louisa Barrow her gender and lower class

status denying her a voice As the mistress

of a high profile citizen Louisa was not part

of respectable society yet she left an estate

of land and property raised five children

and was part of the history of Melbourne 25

His significant headstone in Melbourne

Cemetery pays tribute to the man Redmond

Barry and his contribution to the city of

Melbourne yet there is no mention of

Louisa who was buried with him following

her death in 188826

The ultimate silence

Figure 8 Headstone and resting place of both Redmond Barry and Louisa Barrow - Melbourne Cemetery (Monument Australia ndash

permission to print and display for research or study)

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

6

1 P Ryan (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 42 2 Morganatic meant of unequal social rank with no entitlement by the woman or children to the

husbandrsquos titles and privileges 3 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 39 4 httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 accessed 25 September 2015 5 httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n His Honor Sir Redmond Barry

The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63 accessed 28 September 2015 6 Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015 7 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press Sth Melbourne p2 8 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 34 9 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton

pp 68-9 10 Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015 11 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 166 12 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 101-2 13 Paul de Serville (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford

University Press South Melbourne p 32 14 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 15 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 16 Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015 17 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 18 Ann Galbally Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press Carlton p

147 19 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946 20 Trevor Fisher (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153 21 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 137 22 Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton p 104 23 Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData 24 Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

literature arts and social notes 25 Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 Retrieved

September 29 2015 from httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120 26 Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

7

Illustrations Figure 1 Redmond Barry in Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian

Melbourne University Press Carlton p 68 b

Figure 2 Louisa Barrow in Ann Galbally (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian

Melbourne University Press Carlton p 68 b Ann Galbally acknowledges this photo to a private

collection

Figure 3 Photograph of Chancellor Barry Image H96160140 circa 1870 Photographer Thomas

Chuck Note Barry is wearing his KB and KCMG httpsearchslvvicgovauMAINSLV_VOYAGER1796713 accessed 3 October 2015 Figure 4 Sir Redmond Barry Statue State Library Victoria Image H39357111

Figure 5 Notes to Mrs Barrow - Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria

accessed 15 August 2015

Figure 6 Probate document ndash Sir Redmond Barry httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData accessed 15 August 2015

Figure 7 Table Talk - Mrs Barrow Death Notice

httptrovenlagovaundpdelarticle146023123searchTerm=Louisa barrowampsearchLimits=l-

state=Victoria|||l-title=713 accessed 15 August 2015

Figure 8 Redmond Barry Headstone Melbourne Cemetery

httpmonumentaustraliaorgauthemespeoplelegaldisplay30682-sir-redmond-barry- accessed 7

October 2015 (Monument Australia ndash grants permission to ldquoprint and display the material for your

own information and or research or studyrdquo)

Bibliography Primary Sources

Population Statistics httpergoslvvicgovauexplore-historycolonial-melbourneeveryday-

lifepopulation accessed 28 September 2015

Probate Documents - Public Records Office Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

httpwwwaccessprovvicgovaupublicveo-

downloadobjectId=090fe273813e50a0ampformat=pdfampdocTitle=00028P00000002470760pdfampencodi

ngId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData

Redmond Barry Papers Box 5995e State Library of Victoria accessed 15 August 2015

Table Talk was a social magazine for men and women that included articles about politics finance

arts and social notes httptrovenlagovaundpdelarticle146023123searchTerm=Louisa

barrowampsearchLimits=l-state=Victoria|||l-title=713 accessed 15 August 2015

His Honor Sir Redmond Barry The Illustrated Australian News 29 February 1872 p 63

httptrovenlagovaundpdelprintArticlePdf604463443print=n accessed 28 September 2015

Photograph of Chancellor Barry circa 1870 Photographer Thomas Chuck Note Barry is wearing

his KB and KCMG httpwww3slvvicgovaulatrobejournalissuelatrobe-73fig-latrobe-73-

042ahtml accessed 3 October 2015

Wills and Bequests (1889 June 7) Table Talk (Melbourne Vic 1885 - 1939) p 5 accessed

September 29 2015 httpnlagovaunlanews-article146023120

Secondary Sources

Australian Dictionary of Biography accessed 25 September 2015

httpadbanueduaubiographybarry-sir-redmond-2946

Fisher T (1993) Permissiveness and the politics of morality Contempory Record 71 p 153

Galbally A (1995) Redmond Barry - An Anglo-Irish Australian Melbourne University Press

Carlton

Ryan P (1980) Redmond Barry A Colonial Life 1813-1880 2nd Ed Melbourne University Press

Carlton

de Serville P (1991) Pounds and Pedigrees-The Upper Class in Victoria 1850-80 Oxford University

Press Sth Melbourne