  In this paper, we reconsider the large-$a$ asymptotic expansion of the
Hurwitz zeta function $\zeta(s,a)$. New representations for the remainder term
of the asymptotic expansion are found and used to obtain sharp and realistic
error bounds. Applications to the asymptotic expansions of the polygamma
functions, the gamma function, the Barnes $G$-function and the $s$-derivative
of the Hurwitz zeta function $\zeta(s,a)$ are provided. A detailed discussion
on the sharpness of our error bounds is also given.
