STOTT, Judge Barton Harold.jpg)
B Stott, 1st VIII 1953
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Hon. Barton Stott, 2006
Barton Stott was born 1936 to Harold and Helen Stott of Noble St Newtown. Harold was a jeweller of “EG Stott and Sons” on Moorabool St.
Barton Stott was a day student at Geelong College from 1 October 1941 to December 1953. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1953. A member of Morrison House, he received house colour for rowing in 1953, as well as school rowing cap and colours. He participated in football during his time at school and performed well in French throughout his schooling.
Prior to tertiary studies, Barton spent two years in the Royal Australian Navy, reaching rank of Able Seaman.
Barton went on to study law at the University of Melbourne and was a resident at Ormond. There he rowed in the VIII receiving a Half Blue in 1960. He was also Chairman of the Students Club that year. His Law Degree from the University of Melbourne was conferred 21 February 1962.
Judge Barton Stott retired in 2006 from a distinguished legal career including as a County Court Judge from 1989 to 2006.
The following description was published in the Victorian Bar News:
'After a brief but stimulating career in the Royal Australian Navy where Stott achieved the rank of Able Seaman and retains to this day a love of all things nautical, Stott commenced his legal career as a Clerk of Petty Sessions. Part of Stott’s early training took place in the Victorian Crown Solicitor’s Office, which exposed Stott to a serious amount of old law title work which (and this will be no surprise to those familiar with his Honour’s meticulous attention to detail) Stott actually enjoyed. After serving as a law clerk at Hedderwicks, Fookes & Alston (including his period of articles), Stott was admitted to partnership but later went to the Bar where he read with Alec Southwell, later QC, and later still a Judge of both the County and Supreme Courts. ... As a barrister, Stott developed a deserved reputation as a great “all-rounder” which suited him perfectly for the demands of circuit practice, particularly in Ballarat where His Honour spent a number of years on the Supreme Court circuit for four months of the year, carrying out very competently both jury and causes work in the Ballarat list. ... His industry is emphasised by the fact that those familiar with his Honour’s work in the Defamation List calculate that Stott dealt with a substantial list every fortnight for 15 years and gave no fewer than 900 rulings/judgments, expeditiously resolving sometimes complex legal arguments and issues with great precision.' Barton was married to Kay and they have two children.
Barton passed away 9 April 2022, aged 85 years.
Sources: Victorian Bar News No 139, Summer 2006 p16, Pegasus, OGC 1949.