The Counsel family have been prominent in Tasmanian Public life for over a century. From County Louth, Ireland, Richard, Peter, Lawrence, Ann and Judith Counsel arrived in Tasmania in July 1832 on the 'Norval'.;;;;Jean Counsel attended the Edinburgh School of Cookery and Domestic Economy in 1921 and her menu notes and examination papers have survived giving a valuable insight into domestic training and values of the period.;;;;Barry Ambrose Counsel, born at Winnaleah on 30 June 1929, was the eldest child of Albert Baden Counsel (1893-1975) and Marie Grace (1896-1990). Barry and his three brothers were boarders at St Virgils College, Hobart. He graduated from the University of Tasmania with a BA (1953) and Diploma of Public Administration (1959). He worked in both public and private sector organisations at management, Chief Executive and senior Board levels.