Seventh governor of New South Wales.

Saw government as "strict adherence to regulations, and the unquestioning personal allegiance of his subordinates" and saw himself as the "chosen defender of the King’s authority in an immense territory."

Introduced an expertly integrated and supervised civil service.

Extended the Colony’s western boundary, set in 1788 at 135 degrees east longitude, to the 129th meridian. This longitude later became the border dividing Western Australia and South Australia. To the south, everything beyond Wilson’s Promontory, the southeastern ‘corner’ of the continent, ceased to be under the control of New South Wales and was placed under the authority of the Governor of Van Dieman’s Land. Proclaimed Van Diemen’s Land as a separate government. This would be administered by a lieutenant governor in Darling’s absence.

Wanted his officials to be respectable as well as efficient – saw "the selection of individuals is so important…not only the character of the Government, but the moral improvement of the people mainly depend on it."

Achieved monetary and banking reform. Introduced stricter control over government loans. Collected all public monies regularly thus doubling colonial revenue without additional taxes and paid the entire cost of the civil government from it.

Was the first governor to be assisted by a newly constituted Executive Council, whose members included the Lieutenant-Governor, Chief Justice, Colonial Secretary and the Archdeacon. Had orders to nominate the four executive counselors and three non-official members to the Legislative Council. In both councils, the members were sworn to secrecy and Darling was under orders to act on their advice as far as possible, and when he did not do so, to give reasons to the Colonial Office. Although he alone could initiate legislation, until 1829 he had to obtain a certificate from the chief justice that each proposed amendment "was not repugnant to the Laws of England, but consistent therewith so far as the circumstances of the colony would admit." There were a few initial problems between the chief justice and the governor when the chief justice felt that the governor interfered with the sphere of the judiciary. These were soon resolved.

Darling proposed a larger Legislative Council with a small Executive Council. Under the new Act of 1828 the Legislative Council was enlarged to fourteen, seven of them non-officials. The Governor retained his initiative of introducing measures, but members could submit their bills and, if refused, record their dissent. The governor was also required to preside in the council even while his bills were discussed, and to abide by a majority decision, though he had an original and casting vote. The oaths of secrecy were abolished and notices of proposed bills were to appear in the press. Each new enactment was to be sent to the Supreme Court for enrolment and any judge could protest its contradiction to the laws of England and thereby force its amendment. The reform still left the Executive Council under oligarchic control, introduced no element of popular government and did little to modify the executive powers of the governor.

Had instructions stating that special provision should be made for the Christianisation and civilisation of the Aborigines.

Would not tolerate plunder of settlements or farms by the Indigenous peoples and lent ‘full government support’ to any settler who, when threatened, chose to ‘take vigorous measures for their own defence.’ On the other hand, he sentenced three men to hang then commuted to transportation to Norfolk Island after they were found guilty of murdering an Aboriginal boy at Port Stephens.

Established a School Corporation.

Completed the division of the colony into counties and parishes.

Established a Land Board whose duty it was to grant land to bona fide settlers in proportion to their capital. This brought the beginnings of a uniform land system, paving the way for the successful introduction of the Ripon regulations in 1831.

Gave the Australian Agricultural Co. a monopoly of the government coalmines at Newcastle for 31 years.

Responsible for many important explorations – Sturt to the western rivers, the Murrumbidgee and the Murray; Cunningham to northern rivers, Darling Downs and the Richmond River; Stirling to the Swan River. Opened stations at Western Port, King George Sound and North Australia.

Built and improved roads to the north, west and south of Sydney and up the Hunter River to Newcastle.