Finding Sir Evidence of zealous and distinguished labours Jason Benjamin

There are few who could claim looms large in the university’s early to have had such a fundamental history. He stamped his strongly held influence on the development of opinions on all aspects of the early ’s cultural, educational and university, from its curriculum to its legal landscape as Sir Redmond Barry infrastructure. Barry’s enthusiasm, (1813–1880).1 A visionary with a dedication and hard work over the passion for the arts and learning, 27 years he served as chancellor were Barry was instrumental in establishing instrumental in building the strong some of Victoria’s most important foundations upon which today’s institutions, including the University university now stands. It is fitting then of , the Melbourne Public that within the cultural collections Library (now the State Library of of the university can be found much Victoria) and the National Gallery evidence of Barry’s contribution to of Victoria. his adopted home. Archives, books, June 2013 witnessed the Barry was born in Ballyclough in furniture, artworks and other personal bicentenary of Barry’s birth. The County Cork, Ireland, in 1813, the objects give us an important glimpse occasion was marked by a number of third son of a well-established Anglo- of the man Barry was. events, public lectures and exhibitions Norman family.2 He graduated The was organised by the University of from Trinity College, Dublin, with founded by an Act of the Victorian Melbourne, the State Library of a Bachelor of Arts in 1837 and was Parliament in January 1853. The Victoria and the Supreme Court of admitted to the Irish bar in 1838. driving force behind its establishment Victoria. One of the highlights of Barry had limited prospects in was Hugh Childers, auditor-general the celebrations was a symposium Ireland, so emigration offered him and former inspector of schools reflecting on Barry’s life and one of the few avenues to advance his for Victoria. On the passing of the achievements, held at the Baillieu legal career; he set sail for legislation, Governor La Trobe Library on his 200th birthday, 7 June. in April 1839. Arriving in Melbourne invited Barry to become provisional The event was presided over by the on 13 November 1839 after first chancellor.3 At the meeting of the chancellor of the university, Elizabeth being admitted to the bar in , University Council held on 17 May Alexander am, with the Hon. Marilyn Barry proceeded to establish his legal 1853, a ballot was held and Barry was Warren ac, chief justice of the career and standing in Melbourne formally elected chancellor, a role he Supreme Court of Victoria, as one society. Over the following 40 was to hold until his death 27 years of the guest speakers. Accompanying years he was to become a highly later. Although Barry had not been the the symposium was an exhibition influential force in Victoria’s cultural, principal player in the founding of the exploring Barry’s life through objects educational and legal spheres. university, once elected as chancellor and documents drawn from the As the first chancellor of the he became the dominant force that university’s cultural collections. University of Melbourne, Barry made its actual establishment and

Jason Benjamin, ‘Finding Sir Redmond Barry’ 3 Previous page: , Sir Redmond Barry, c. 1865, bronze, diameter 22.2 cm. Reg. no. 1995.0133, purchased 1995, University of Melbourne Art Collection.

early success possible. Writing many Barry officiated at the laying of the buildings befitting his aspirations for years later, Hugh Childers was to foundation stone for the university’s the institution. acknowledge that ‘the largest share first building, the Quadrangle, on Barry’s greatest success in this of the University’s work was done 3 July 1854. Ten months later, on endeavour was the realisation of a by Barry’.4 13 April 1855, he officiated at the ceremonial hall for conferring degrees Evidence of Barry’s role in university’s official inauguration, and holding examinations, known as the university is contained in the when the first 16 students enrolled. Wilson Hall.8 Having been greatly collections of the University of Both these events are commemorated inspired by the Great Hall at the Melbourne Archives in the form of in the holdings of Special Collections University of Sydney in the early letter books, correspondence, minute in the Baillieu Library, which 1860s, Barry lobbied hard over many books and published ephemera. Of has original editions of the Argus years to realise his dream. Wilson particular note is a circular dated newspaper reports of the laying of Hall was made possible by a generous 18 April 1853 from Victorian colonial the foundation stone, published the donation from the pastoralist Sir secretary William Lonsdale, notifying following day, and the published Samuel Wilson, whom Barry Barry of the first meeting of the proceedings of the inauguration held persuaded to fund its construction.9 University of Melbourne Council, to on 13 April 1855. Barry’s speeches Glimpses of the role Barry played be held on 3 May 1853,5 a meeting delivered on both these occasions are in the realisation of the hall, along that was held in Barry’s chambers reproduced in these sources.7 with many other university buildings, at the Supreme Court. Also of note During Barry’s tenure as can also be found in the collections is the University Council’s first chancellor he played a very active and of the University of Melbourne outward-bound letter book, which vocal role in shaping the buildings Archives. Annual reports over many records the correspondence generated and grounds of the university. The years record his lament over the by the council as it went about its original university building (the lack of a suitable hall for graduation business. The second entry in this Quadrangle), designed by Francis ceremonies and examinations. In the letter book, dated 17 May 1853, Maloney White, was begun in early Registrar’s Correspondence series records the contents of Barry’s letter 1854 and stages were built over the of files can be found letters both to to the colonial secretary to report, following three years. Funding to and from Barry that demonstrate his among other outcomes of the second complete the building as planned influence on the design of the hall. council meeting, his election as by Maloney, however, was not Of particular note are the letters to chancellor. Writing this letter would available. This was to set a precedent the vice-chancellor, Sir Anthony have been one of Barry’s first acts as for the expanding university as it Brownless, that Barry wrote in 1877 the officially elected chancellor.6 struggled to raise funds for suitable while travelling in Europe. These In this role, Barry presided over accommodation. Barry was to expend discuss design features for the hall all formal occasions associated with a great deal of energy petitioning the and enclose photographs of similar the university. Suitably attired in his government to support his plans for university buildings that he saw and newly tailored chancellor’s robes, providing the university with grand admired in Lisbon.10

4 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 13, December 2013 Laying the memorial stone of the Wilson Hall, Melbourne University, 1879, wood engraving, 25.5 × 22.7 cm, published in The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil, 25 October 1879. Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

Jason Benjamin, ‘Finding Sir Redmond Barry’ 5 Attributed to the Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat, Wine glass with engraved crest of Sir Redmond Barry, before 1880, height: 17.5 cm. Reg. no. 1979.0242, gift of Mr and Mrs W. Pate, 1979, the Ernst Matthaei Memorial Collection of Early Glass, University of Melbourne.

At the laying of the memorial stone for the hall on 2 October 1879, Barry was again to perform his chancellor’s duties and officiate. The moment is captured in a wood engraving published in The Australasian Sketcher, a copy of which is held in Special Collections in the Baillieu Library (see page 5).11 Dressed in the full splendour of his chancellor’s robes, Barry is shown on the scaffolding, delivering to the assembled crowed the lengthy speech he had prepared for the occasion. Also in Special Collections can be found the official publication produced after the ceremony, which reproduces Barry’s speech in full. Another wood engraving, held in the Baillieu Library Print Collection, depicts the same occasion. Published in The Illustrated Australian News on 31 October 1879, this print shows Barry standing to the side of Sir Samuel Wilson as the latter taps the memorial stone into place.12 Barry was a well-known social identity in Melbourne and was especially renowned for his entertaining. Of particular note were the dinners he held each year on the anniversary of his arrival in Melbourne, at which he would entertain his gentlemen friends with a dinner followed by large bottles of port that were passed around as

6 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 13, December 2013 Right: Sir Redmond Barry’s deed box, c. 1860, wood, leather, brass, 15.5 × 47.0 × 28.0 cm. Reg. no. 1985.0177, University of Melbourne Archives.

Below: Bookplate of Sir Redmond Barry, before 1880, wood engraving, 8.9 × 7.6 cm, in John Leslie Fitzgerald Foster, The new colony of Victoria, formerly Port Phillip: Together with some account of the other Australian colonies, : Trelawney Saunders, 1851. Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

stories were told.13 Evidence of his bookplate bearing his crest. Books lavish style of entertainment can held in Special Collections of the be found in the Ernst Matthaei Baillieu Library include a volume Memorial Collection of Early Glass, presented to Barry as a child by his which forms part of the University of aunt,16 as well as a volume on British Melbourne Art Collection and is on painting and sculpture acquired in display at University House.14 Among 1841 to expand the book collection the large number of significant pieces he made available to Melbourne’s of glass dating from the 17th century working men.17 Of particular note onwards is a wine glass with the finely is a copy of John Leslie Fitzgerald hand-engraved crest of Sir Redmond Foster’s 1851 publication The new Barry on the bowl (pictured colony of Victoria, formerly Port opposite). Dating from c. 1850–75, Phillip,18 with a personal inscription the glass has a diamond-cut stem and from the author to Barry.19 plain foot and is thought to have been The University of Melbourne made by the French Compagnie des Law Library Rare Book Collection Cristalleries de Baccarat, one of the also holds a number of legal texts leading producers of quality stemware that once formed part of Barry’s of the day. Most likely sold from professional library as a lawyer and Barry’s estate following his death, the Supreme Court judge.20 Another glass was generously donated to the University of Melbourne Archives reminder of Barry’s legal career is university by Mr and Mrs W. Pate holds the original architectural his deed box, held by the University in 1979. drawings of Joseph Reed’s design for of Melbourne Archives, which Sir Redmond Barry was a great the State Library of Victoria building, he would have used in a similar bibliophile and believed strongly into which Barry no doubt had a fashion to a briefcase for his legal in the Victorian-era ideal of self- significant input.15 Barry was also the work (pictured above). A more stark improvement through the gaining driving force behind the founding of reminder of Barry as judge resides at of knowledge. From the early 1840s the Supreme Court Library and the the Harry Brookes Allen Museum he opened the small personal library Victorian Parliamentary Library. of Anatomy and Pathology, in in his home for use by working On Barry’s death his substantial the form of ’s death men and, as stated earlier, was personal library was dispersed across mask. Despite his many long- instrumental in the founding of the various public and private collections. lasting achievements, Barry is Melbourne Public Library. As a Today a number of these books can largely remembered in the popular trustee he was to take a very active be found in the collections of the imagination as the judge who, in role in the library’s administration, University of Melbourne Library, 1880, presided over Kelly’s trial and including the selection of books. The easily identified by Barry’s distinctive sentenced him to death.

Jason Benjamin, ‘Finding Sir Redmond Barry’ 7 Bookcase formerly owned by Sir Redmond Barry, before 1880, Huon pine and metal, 303 × 376 × 42 cm. Acquired from the estate of Sir John Henry MacFarland, 1935, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Heath Sciences, University of Melbourne.

8 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 13, December 2013 George Frederick Folingsby, The Hon. Sir Redmond Barry kcmg, 1881, oil on canvas, 91.5 × 76.0 cm. Reg. no. 1881.0001, commissioned and presented by subscribers 1881, University of Melbourne Art Collection.

As a man of learning, Barry had funeral procession was one of the of Wilson Hall in late 1882, the a wide range of academic interests, largest the city had seen. In the portrait was hung in a prominent which he liked to share in speeches years following his death Barry’s position close to the dais, where it and addresses. He expounded on contribution to the development of remained until the hall was partly topics such as agriculture, sculpture, early Victoria was commemorated destroyed by fire in 1952. Sustaining architecture, painting, music, poetry, in public monuments and artworks. considerable damage to its lower law and education for the edification The most notable of these is the section, the portrait was subsequently of the general public. Barry collated bronze statue of Barry that stands in re-sized to three-quarter length and published many of his speeches, the forecourt of the State Library of as part of conservation works of which Special Collections in the Victoria. (illustrated above and on the front Baillieu Library holds various The importance of Barry’s cover). It now hangs proudly in the copies. One volume of his speeches contribution to Victoria was, however, university’s Council Chamber. that includes many related to the recognised during his own lifetime. In In the 20th century the university arts also contains a catalogue he 1877 the University Barry Memorial continued to commemorate Barry, prepared in 1875 of the oil paintings was established to raise funds by through the naming of a prominent in the Public Library, Museums and subscription to appropriately honour building on the Parkville campus National Gallery of Victoria.21 ‘the zealous and distinguished labours and various public lectures in his Also held by the university, in the of the Chancellor’.23 Eventually honour.27 In more recent times the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and amassing over £300, options Redmond Barry Fellowship, which Heath Sciences, is a bookcase that considered were a statue, a portrait is offered in partnership between once graced Barry’s home (pictured or the naming of a scholarship. In the University of Melbourne and opposite). This large, highly figured, 1879 the Barry Memorial Committee the State Library of Victoria, has golden-toned Huon pine bookcase, commissioned George Folingsby to continued to pay tribute to Barry’s with a carved pediment featuring paint a full-length portrait of Barry legacy by facilitating scholarly a central shield flanked by two dressed in his chancellor’s robes. research and writing that draw upon smaller ones, was acquired by the The records of the University Barry the superb collections of the two university from the estate of Sir Memorial, held by University of institutions he was instrumental in John Henry MacFarland in 1935. Melbourne Archives, provide us with establishing. MacFarland, the seventh chancellor the details of those who subscribed of the university, had purchased as well as the committee’s dealings Jason Benjamin is conservation programs the bookcase from Barry’s estate in with Folingsby.24 But Barry was to sit coordinator with the Cultural Collections Unit of the University of Melbourne. about 1881.22 only twice for the portrait before his Sir Redmond Barry died on untimely death,25 and the painting 23 November 1880 at the age of 67. was not completed until May 1881, 1 Barry was made a Knight Bachelor (KB) in 1860 and a Knight Commander of the Most His death was greatly lamented by at which time it was first publicly Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and his fellow Melburnians and his exhibited.26 Following the completion Saint George (KCMG) in 1877.

Jason Benjamin, ‘Finding Sir Redmond Barry’ 9 2 Ann Galbally, Redmond Barry: An Anglo-Irish 12 Laying memorial stone of the Wilson Hall, 19 John Leslie Fitzgerald Foster (1818–1900) Australian, Melbourne University Press, 1995, Melbourne University, wood engraving had arrived in Victoria in 1841 to take p. 5. published in The Illustrated Australian advantage of the business opportunities 3 Ernest Scott, A history of the University News, 31 October 1879. Reg. no. 2012.0040, provided by the colony’s expanding pastoral of Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, Baillieu Library Print Collection, University industry. He wrote The new colony of Victoria 1936, p. 6. of Melbourne. after he returned to the United Kingdom 4 Scott, A history, p. 7. 13 Galbally, Redmond Barry, p. 140. in 1850, as a handbook for prospective 5 Colonial Secretary circular, 18 April 1853. 14 The collection was established in memory of colonists and migration agents. In 1852 File: Council papers, Part 1, Docket 1, 1853, Ernst Matthaei (1904–1966), a staff member Foster applied for the Victorian colonial item 8, UM 447, University of Melbourne in the School of Botany. Money subscribed secretaryship, returning to Victoria to take Archives. to a memorial appeal was used partly to up the post on 20 July 1853. 6 Council letter book (outward) 1853−71. purchase a small initial collection, with the 20 Owen Ruffhead, The statutes at large: UM 5 (ref. no. 2001.0076), University of balance invested to fund future purchases. From Magna Charta to the Union of Great Melbourne Council, University of Melbourne The collection currently consists of some Britain and Ireland, London: Printed by Archives. 300 individual pieces. See Peter M. Attiwill, Mark Basket and by the assigns of Robert 7 Proceedings on the occasion of the inauguration ‘The Ernst Matthaei Memorial Collection Basket and by Henry Woodfall and William of the University of Melbourne on Friday, of Early Glass’, University of Melbourne Strahan, 1763–1800. Law Rare Books the 13th of April, 1855, Melbourne: John Collections, issue 8, June 2011, pp. 37–46. Collection, University of Melbourne. Ferres, Government Printer, 1855. Special 15 See ref. no. 1968.0013, Bates, Smart 21 Sir Redmond Barry, Lectures and addresses, Collections, Baillieu Library, University McCutcheon Collection, University of Melbourne: Mason, Firth & M’Cutcheon, of Melbourne. Melbourne Archives. General Printers, 1874. Special Collections, 8 For more information on Wilson Hall 16 Oliver Cromwell, Memoirs of the protector, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne. see Jason Benjamin and Emily Wubben, Oliver Cromwell, and of his sons, Richard 22 Sir John Henry MacFarland (1851–1935) Architectural ornament: The history and art and Henry: Illustrated by original letters and served as chancellor from 1918 until his of Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne, other family papers, by Oliver Cromwell, a death in 1935. The provenance is recorded Cultural Collections Department, University descendant of the family, London: Longman, on a plaque now affixed to the bookcase. of Melbourne, 2012. Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, 1821. Special 23 The University Barry Memorial 1877 9 Scott tells of a meeting between Barry and Collections, Baillieu Library, University of (printed pamphlet). File: Barry Memorial Wilson at the Melbourne Club in which Melbourne. This work was presented to the Fund 1877–1881, UM 447, University of Wilson spoke pessimistically of the prospects nine-year-old Redmond Barry by his aunt Melbourne Archives. of his coming wool clip. Taking the initiative, Elizabeth Arabella Barry in 1822. 24 Barry Memorial Fund, University of Barry shrewdly convinced Wilson that if the 17 George Hamilton, The English school: A Melbourne Accounts Branch. Ref. no. clip were bountiful he should give his surplus series of the most approved productions in 1982.0003, University of Melbourne profit to the university. (Scott,A history.) painting and sculpture, executed by British Accounts Branch 1853–1969, University 10 Redmond Barry, letters to Dr Brownless, artists from the days of Hogarth to the present of Melbourne Archives. 23 March and 23 September 1877. File: time, London: C. Tilt, 1831–32. Special 25 ‘Victoria’, Launceston Examiner, 1877/5, Brownless, Dr: letters to, UM 312 Collections, Baillieu Library, University of 4 December 1880, p. 1. (ref. no. 1999.0014), Registrar’s Melbourne. According to the inscription on 26 ‘Latest telegrams, Victorian intelligence’, Correspondence Files, University of the inside cover, Barry acquired this book on Evening News (Sydney), 31 May 1881, p. 2. Melbourne Archives. 7 January 1841. 27 The Redmond Barry Building was 11 Laying the memorial stone of the Wilson Hall, 18 John Leslie Fitzgerald Foster, The new colony completed in 1961. Intended as a Melbourne University, 1879, wood engraving of Victoria, formerly Port Phillip: Together ‘decanting’ building for a variety of poorly published in The Australasian Sketcher with with some account of the other Australian housed disciplines (including commerce, Pen and Pencil, 25 October 1879. Special colonies, London: Trelawney Saunders, education, psychology, physics and biology), Collections, Baillieu Library, University of 1851. Special Collections, Baillieu Library, the building in this way represents its Melbourne. University of Melbourne. namesake’s broad interests.

10 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 13, December 2013