He was educated at King's College, and at the age of nineteen, emigrated to New Zealand, where he engaged in sheep farming for two years.

in 1892, Bernays was a very competent public servant, who played a prominent part in the Queensland parliament.

[6] He was one of the founders of the Queensland Acclimatisation Society, holding positions of Councillor, Honorary Secretary, Vice-President, President and vice-patron for many years.

[9] Bernays died of heart failure on 22 August 1908 following a short illness and was survived by five sons and four daughters.

[12][13] In 1909, a bust of Bernays was commissioned from sculptor James Laurence Watts for the Queensland Parliament House.