Biographies

From Engineering Heritage Australia


Biographies are indexed by:



Many overseas engineers have contributed to Australia's development. As it is not practical to include every engineer who has worked on an Australian project, the criterion adopted for inclusion was 'in the order of at least 5 years residence in Australia'.


More Australian engineer biographies are available from:

National Biographies

National Biographies will include the list of engineers that was developed by EHA for inclusion in the 2019 Centenary Book titled Anything is Possible. It is considered that this list is simply a starting point and possible future inclusions will be EA National Presidents and winners of the Peter Nicol Russell Career Achievement Memorial Medal.

In 2009 Engineers Australia commemorated its 90th anniversary by sponsoring the Pin Oak Forest in the new National Arboretum in Canberra. It is Forest 41 at the Arboretum and was planted in July 2009. For more information, refer to the Engineers Australia Pin Oak Forest Sponsor Form.

The Pin Oak Forest was planned as an opportunity for Engineers Australia to commemorate the achievements of its engineers. Some 300 trees have been reserved in honour of individuals, senior office bearers and other distinguished citizens who have delivered conspicuous service to the Australian people through the engineering profession. These engineers could also be commemorated by inclusion in EHA's National biographies.

State Biographies

State Biographies are managed by EHA's various Branches. A table of 'Biographies' in alphabetical order is below.

Name Years Occupation State Source Bio No.
Albrecht, Martin Carl CEO and Chair Thiess Pty Ltd QLD HOF 4011
Axon, Sir Albert Edwin (1898-1974) Engineer and Chancellor of QLD University QLD HOF 4012
Ball, Richard Thomas (1857-1937) Engineer and politician NSW 2001
Baltzer,_William Julius (1859-1948) Introduced reinforced concrete to Australia NSW 2012
Bradfield, John Job Crew (1867-1943) Consulting engineer and Sydney transport QLD HOF 4013
Bull, Frank (1917-2003) Structural engineer and Professor at Adelaide University SA HOF 5001
Burley, Victor (1914-2002) Cadbury Australia Vice Chairman TAS 7001
Burn, Alan (1889-1959) Acdemic at Tasmania University, first composite bridge beams
and Institution President in 1950
TAS 7002
Burrows, George (1890-1984) Railway engineer and Amiens Gun NSW 2002
Butler, Kathleen Muriel (1891-1972) Confidential Secretary to Bradfield on Sydney Harbour Bridge NSW 2003
Butters, John (1883?-1969) Father of Tasmanian Hydro and developer of Canberra TAS 7003
Cameron, Ian George Consulting engineer in prestressed concrete bridges QLD HOF 4004
Chapman, Sir Robert (1866-1942) Consulting engineer and promoted professional status SA HOF 5002
Clifford, Robert (Bob) Pioneered the high speed ferry industry TAS 7004
Colebatch, Gordon (1910-1996) HEC Chief Civil Engineer and Institution President in 1961 TAS 7005
Corin, William (1867-1929) Electrical engineer at Launceston, Chief Electrical Engineer
for NSW and consulting engineer in hydro-electricity
TAS 7006
Crisp, Colin (1928-1991) Consulting structural engineer and building conservationist NSW 2014
Davis, Edward (Ted) (1920-1981) Challis Professor of Civil Engineering at Sydney University NSW 2011
Driffield, Edward (1865-1945) Superintending Engineer of Railways for Mt Lyell TAS 7007
Edwards, John (Jack) General Manager Launceston Marine Board
and Chair of Australian Maritime College
TAS 7008
Evans, Daniel Edward (1885-1951) Evans and Deakin pioneered electric arc welding in QLD QLD HOF 4009
Farrow, Bill (1866-1937) Construction supervisor Sydney Transport NSW 2004
Fitch, Ronald (1910-2015) Railway Commissioner and oldest person awarded a PhD SA 5003
Fraser, Keith (1893-1952) Commissioner for Railways;
Commanding Officer for Beirut to Tripoli railway
NSW 2005
Fry, George Donald Owner and chair of AIMTEK in Cairns QLD 4003
Gepp, Sir Herbert (Bert) (1877-1954) Mining metallurgist and manager, public servant,
industrialist and publicist
TAS 7009
Hawken, Professor Roger William (1878-1947) Dean of faculty QLD University, EA President in 1923 QLD 4001
Hendrson, John Baillie (1836-1921) State Hydraulic Engineer QLD 4005
Holt, Sir James Arthur (1898-1974) Coordinator-General QLD 4010
Humphries, Albert (1879-1969) Sydney Transport Railway Construction NSW 2006
Kemp, Sir John Robert (1883-1955) Coordinator-General QLD 4002
Kinnaird, Malcolm (1933-2014) Founder of Kinhill SA HOF 5004
Knight, Sir Allan (1910-1998) Chief Engineer of PWD and Commissioner of HEC TAS 7010
Lawson, William (Bill) Established the Beacon Foundation supporting young people
into employment and Board member of Reconciliation Australia
TAS 7011
Leech, Thomas David James (1902-1973) Civil Engineer and Scientist NSW 2013
Lewis, Essington (1881-1961) 'The Steel Master' and in 1940 Director General of Munitions SA HOF 5006
Lewis, Keith (1927-2013) Chief Executive Engineering and Water Supply Department SA HOF 5007
McCulloch, Alf (1899-1969) Chief Engineer with major role in electricity industry QLD HOF 4007
McIntyre, John (1924-2006) Consultant and National President of EA QLD HOF 4008
Pak-Poy, Patrick (1933-1988) Consultant and Government advisor SA HOF 5010
Parbo, Sir Arvi (1944-2019) Chairman of Western Mining Corporation SA HOF 5012
Parson, Rex (1894-1961) Principal SA School of Mines and Institution President in 1955 SA HOF 5011
Quittner, John (1919-2010) Invention of median barrier moving machine NSW 2007
Roderick, Jack (1913-1990) Challis Professor of Civil Engineering at Sydney University NSW 2010
Spratt, Peter Consultant in the conservation of heritage buildings (Port Arthur)
and bridges
TAS 7012
Stamm, Walter (1926-2018) Managing Director John Shearer Limited SA HOF 5013
Sticht, Robert (1856-1922) General Manager Mount Lyell and pioneer of pyritic smelting TAS 7013
Todd, Sir Charles (1826-1910) Overland Telegraph Line and scientist SA HOF 5015
Tonkin, Skip (1925-2012) Consultant and Institution President in 1989 SA HOF 5016
Traeger, Alfred (1895-1980) Developer of the 'pedal radio' SA HOF 5017
Warren, William Henry (1852-1926) Challis Professor of Engineering at Sydney University NSW 2015
Watson, Sir Bruce (1928-2008) Chairman of MIM Holdings QLD HOF 4006
Webb, Barry (1940-2022) The man who lit up Sydney, Olympics 2000 NSW 2008
White, Jim (1951-2014) General Manager Whyalla Steelworks SA HOF 5018
Whittle, Jeff (1930-2024) Geovia software for mine optimisation VIC 6017
Williams, Dr Don (1937-2001) Chairman of Australian National Railways;
CEO of Australian Submarine Corporation
SA HOF 5019
Woods, Dr Don (1911-1981) Director Defence Science and Technology Organisation;
Institution President in 1973
SA HOF 5020

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