15 Facts About Barrie Unsworth

Barrie John Unsworth was born on 16 April 1934 and is an Australian former politician, representing the Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991.

Barrie Unsworth served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.

Since the death of Steele Hall on 10 June 2024, Unsworth is the oldest living premier of an Australian state.

Barrie Unsworth, the son of Joseph and Olive Barrie Unsworth, was born in Dubbo, New South Wales, and educated in Sydney, at Kogarah High School.

Barrie Unsworth was initially an Apprentice Electrical Fitter, then Electrical Fitter, Electrical Testing Officer and subsequently Sales Representative for Sydney County Council from 1950 until 1960.

In 1961, Barrie Unsworth became an organiser of the Electrical Trades Union, and continued to build his career in the labour movement.

Barrie Unsworth was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1966 to attend Harvard University Trade Union Program.

Barrie Unsworth was an Australian delegate to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Study Conference, Oxford University in 1974.

Barrie Unsworth was elected a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1978.

Unlike several of his predecessors including Wran, Barrie Unsworth chose not to be his own Treasurer.

Barrie Unsworth was Premier for two years until the Labor Party's landslide defeat by the Liberals' Nick Greiner in the 1988 elections.

Immediately following politics, Barrie Unsworth had little political involvement with his only public commitment being as deputy chairman and then Chairman of the Australian Executive Committee for His Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh Study Conference.

Barrie Unsworth has been a Director of Entherm Pty Ltd, Member of Overseas Trade Authority of New South Wales and a Director of Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

In 2003 and 2004, Barrie Unsworth was commissioned by the NSW Government to conduct a formal review of public bus services.

Barrie Unsworth led the effort to purchase and preserve the former home of Gough Whitlam as a historic site which would be open to the public.