George William Barker was born in London on 5 July 1826, the son of George Barker (1803-1878) a musical instrument maker and Sarah Ann Craddock (1804-1887).[1] He came to Sydney on the Spartan with his parents, three sisters, Mary Ann, Sarah and Emma, and his younger brother, William. They arrived on 31 January 1838 after a voyage of some five months.[2] George’s uncles, Thomas (1799-1875) and James (1797–1861) Barker had arrived in the colony in 1822, some 15 years before, with Thomas[3] working as a clerk for John Dickson (1744-1843) a flour miller.[4] George was educated at Dr Fullerton’s School, Windsor, the King’s School, Parramatta, and the Grammar School Sydney.

Initial Business Involvement

After school and for some time, George partnered with his father as a grocer and corn dealer, in George Street Parramatta. In December 1847,[5] the public was advised that George was leaving the partnership.[6] So it was that in 1848, attracted by the business opportunities afforded by the development of Port Phillip and perhaps with a sense of adventure, he travelled overland with several friends for some 8 weeks to the Geelong area where he settled and ‘found a position in a store’.[7]

Family and Faith

It would appear that the move to the Geelong area was quickly crowned with success for George was soon able to marry. A friend recalled that “soon after a certain young lady went down to Melbourne from Parramatta, and Master George obtaining a week’s holiday started also for Melbourne, and at the end of the week returned with Mrs. Barker.”[8] In 1849 in Melbourne, George had married Eliza Hunt the daughter of Richard Hunt, a saddler and Lydia nee Barber.[9] Eliza was born in the Parramatta area and was known to George before travelling to Geelong.[10] They were to have six children: Sarah Elizabeth (1850-1851), Thomas Richard (1854-1860), Edwin George (1856-1918), Emily Eliza (1858-1931), Alice Maude (1863-1945) and Florence (1865-1867). 

The Hunt family were involved with the Parramatta Wesleyan church and while the Barkers were involved with the Presbyterian Church in Parramatta,[11] George is only ever found associated with the Wesleyan Church. According to the Rev Joseph Oram, Barker became a member of the Wesleyan Church at Parramatta before he went to Geelong having been converted ‘during a religious festival when the Rev’s John Watsford and William Moore were brought to Christ’.[12] Watsford was converted at a prayer meeting run by Daniel Draper when he was 18 years old[13] so this would place Barker’s conversion in 1838 when he was around 12 years old.