General Sir Ralph Darling GCH 1772-1858

Darling was governor of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s land 1824-31, replacing Sir Thomas Brisbane and continuing improvements in the machinery of the colonial government, including the civil service.

His financial reforms included the monetary system and the organisation and operation of the Commissariat. The British Treasury had decided to replace the dollar currency in NSW with British coin. The consequent flight of dollars left the colony short of currency which, with a drought, caused economic distress.

He also regularised the Commissariat, banking and colonial revenues, and reordered the accounting and contract system to counter the personal profit activities of commissaries and colonial officials, using ACG Lithgow as his executive arm.