Barrett Reid was educated in Brisbane at Windsor State School, Brisbane State High School and the University of Queensland. He helped found the magazine Barjai, wrote poetry and ran a bookshop. Active in the promotion of modernist trends in art and literature he helped to establish Brisbane's Miya Studio where many developing modernist artists exhibited their work. He was also the Queensland representative for the Adelaide-based Angry Penguins.
After 1947 Reid was part of the artistic community nurtured by John and Sunday Reed at Heide, their home on the outskirts of Melbourne. He was involved in many of the Reed's projects, co-editing Ern Malley's Journal with Reed and Max Harris, and remaining closely associated with the Reeds for the rest of their lives.
Reid began selecting poetry for Overland in its early years and remained closely connected with the magazine as an associate editor from 1967 and editor after Stephen Murray-Smith's death (1988-1993). He was vice-president of the Contemporary Art Society, and wrote for the Museum of Modern Art and Design of Australia. A prominent figure in the Melbourne arts world, Reid influenced the establishment of the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards and was a regular commentator on radio and television. He also wrote art critique, including Of Dark and Light : The Art of John Perceval (1992), and was Chairperson of Australian Book Review and Co-Founder of the National Book Council. Reid was an early advocate of Public Lending Right (PLR) and was chair of the PLR Committee. He also held positions with organisations such as the Library Association of Australia and the Australia Council's Literature Board.
When Reid moved to Melbourne in 1951 he began his long and distinguished career in Victorian libraries. As Chief Executive of the Public Library Division of Victoria, his plans and influence greatly increased the accessibility to libraries for all Victorians. For his contributions to library services and Australian literature he was awarded an AO in 1983 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Melbourne in 1995.
After the Reeds died in 1981 Barrett Reid lived at Heide until his death in 1995. Despite writing prolifically, he published little poetry after the 1950s. Making Country, his first collection of poetry, was published in 1995.
Barrett Reid was the grandson of William Fergusson Reid (q.v.)
