The 1922 redistribution increased the number of voters in some rural electorates and as a result the division of Barrier was abolished with most of its population, including the large mining town of Broken Hill, Wentworth and Balranald, was absorbed by Darling along with Hay from Riverina.
In 1977 it was abolished with Broken Hill and Wentworth going to Riverina and Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan and Coonamble going to Gwydir.
It was a safe seat for the Australian Labor Party, which held it for all but seven months of its history.
Its most prominent member was William Spence, one of the founders of the Labor Party and the Australian Workers' Union.
Spence was also the only non-Labor member ever to hold the seat, having left the party in the 1916 split.