AustLit

John Barr was a Bulletin sub-editor for eleven years and acting editor while S. H. Prior was in Britain on the Australasian Press Delegation. Barr trained as a printer then became shipping reporter on the Evening Post [Wellington], then a Special Writer and Parliamentary Correspondent for the New Zealand Times. In 1906 he joined the Daily Telegraph in Sydney, then was asked by James Edmund to join the Bulletin. Barr later edited the Sunday Times [Sydney], and worked on Aussie magazine and as a freelance journalist. Between 1935 and 1940 he also contributed 'The Shanty on the Rise' series to The World's News.

Barr was one of the earliest writers of an Australian film-script, co-writing Australia Calls with C. A. Jeffries. Barr was also founder of the Australian Journalists Association and the Sydney Press Club.