Background
Barbour was born Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland and migrated to Victoria in 1851.
Barbour was born Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland and migrated to Victoria in 1851.
He owned redgum sawmills at Echuca, Barmah and Yeilima (near Nathalia, Victoria) until 1877 and several paddle steamers until around 1879. He was later involved in land speculation and became embroiled in expensive legal disputes with Henry Ricketson, which all but ruined him financially.
He was the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Murray from 1877 to 1880 (with colleague J M Chanter in the days before single-member electorates) and from 1882 to 1894.
