Francis Charles (Frank) Edmondson
EDMONDSON, Francis Charles (Frank), AWASM FIEAust MIEE MIGasE FAIEE (1895-1980)
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Frank was born in York on March 13, 1895, the son of policeman James Slater Edmondson and his wife Louisa Jolin Edmondson nee Carey. Frank’s primary schooling was at Fremantle Boys School. He sat his Junior in 1910 at Kalgoorlie Central School and commenced study at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines on a Junior Scholarship. In 1912 he won a Chamber of Mines Entrance Scholarship for study at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. Whilst studying, he worked at the Kalgoorlie Power Station.
He graduated in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in 1915, then enlisted in the AIF in January 1916. He served overseas in France with the 14th Field Ambulance. He was wounded and suffered shell shock.
After serving in the AIF between 1916 and 1919 he was employed at Bullfinch and then Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine.
On October 11, 1919, he married music teacher Ivy Doris Lily Cook at St John’s Cathedral Kalgoorlie. They had been engaged since July 1915. Their eldest son, Francis, was born in August 1920.
Frank moved to Perth in 1923, where he became an Engineering Assistant and Chief Draughtsman in the Gas and Electricity Department of the City of Perth. He was appointed the Electrical Engineer in this department in 1925, and succeeded C E Crocker as its General Manager in l929.
In 1929, he chaired the Western Australian sub committee of the Standards Association of Australia tasked with updating electrical wiring standards.
Frank was also active in the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) of Western Australia and was President from 1939 to 1941.
On March 20, 1946, the State Electricity Commission (SECWA) was constituted and purchased the City of Perth Electricity and Gas Department. Frank joined SECWA when this was formed with his position at the Perth City Council being abolished. He succeeded W H. Taylor as its General Manager and Deputy Chairman of SECWA in 1949.
Under his direction, this commission developed as a publicly owned corporation, with full accountability to the State Government, the sole shareholder. SECWA acquired per-existing country power schemes, commissioned a carburetted water gas plant for the Perth Metropolitan Area in 1950, and changed its system from 43 cycle to 50 cycle operation in 1952. It completed South Fremantle Power Station with 4 x 25 MW units generating at 22 KV in 1951 and began constructing the Bunbury Power Station and the 2 MW hydroelectric station at Wellington Dam.
He became a Member of the Institution of Engineers in 1922 and became a Fellow in 1933. He was Chairman of the Western Australian Division of the Institution of Engineers in 1934, and also of the Electrical Supply Association of Australia. In 1953 he was elected as the WA representative on the council of the National Gas Association of Australia.
Frank retired in 1956 and was succeeded by W J. Gillies as Acting Manager and then by J B. Jukes as Manager.
Frank was an Executive with Email Ltd. between 1956 and 1959.
Frank died on January 20, 1980, aged 84. His wife and son had predeceased him.
His published papers include:
- Electric discharge street lighting, JIEA 9, 1937, p. 87;
- The design and construction of the South Fremantle Generating Station, JIEA 25, 1953, p. 125; and
- The South‐west Power Scheme, JIEA 26, 1954, p. 131.
His son Frank Edmondson served as a power transmission engineer with SECWA and was also Chairman of the Western Australian Division of the Institution of Engineers. Up to 2022, they are the only parent and child to have served in this role.
References:
Western Argus, 13.8.1929, p. 13.
WAPD 1929, p. 883.
RRC administration … Municipal Council of Perth, V&P WA 1938, 20.
WWA 1944 p. 320.
Souvenir Brochure, South Fremantle Power Station, State Electricity Commission, June 1951.
Weekend Mail, 14.4.1956, p. 3d.
West Australian, 24.1.80, p. 11.
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