Barwon was originally created in 1894, when it along with Moree, replaced Gwydir. In 1904, with the downsizing of the Legislative Assembly after Federation, Gwydir was recreated and Moree and Barwon were abolished. In 1927, with the breakup of the three-member Electoral district of Namoi, it was recreated.
Originally a marginal seat that traded hands between the Labor Party and the conservative parties, it was considered a safe seat for the National Party who held it without interruption from 1950 until 2019, when it was won by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.