Lawrence Ennis
ENNIS Lawrence, MIMechE MICE HonMIEAust OBE CMG (1871-1938)
Lawrence was an experienced bridge builder in the USA before being recruited by Dorman, Long & Co in 1903. He was appointed a Director in 1924 and managed the tender for Sydney Harbour Bridge. He was Director of Construction for the bridge and on site in Sydney between 1925 and 1932. In August 1932 Ennis became the first Honorary Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
Lawrence was born at Hunter Square, West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland on August 31, 1871, the son of builder Patrick Ennis and his wife Catherine Ennis nee Weir. His mother had multiple engineers in her family background. He grew up in Raeburn Rows, Gavieside, near West Calder. His early education was at Gavieside School. Family circumstances meant he left school at 12 years of age to work as a drawer in a local shale pit, known as No 11 Pit.
He emigrated with his family to Rochester, USA, in May 1887, at age 15. His father’s intention was that his six sons would become farmers.
From 1887 to 1890 he served his apprenticeship with Messrs Connell and Denzler, mechanical engineers of Rochester. He also attended evening classes at a technical school in Rochester. He recalls his first job involved running messages on a Niagara bridge construction. Lawrence patented a new angle iron and came to the attention of entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie whose businesses included Keystone Bridge Company.
By 1890 he was Assistant Engineer with Rochester Bridge and Iron Works.
He married American born Margarette (Margaret) Phillips in the 1890’s. It is not known if they had any children.
In 1902 he became Superintendent Engineer with Baltimore Bridge and Iron Works.
He was recruited from the USA to become Superintendent of Bridge and Constructional work for Dorman, Long & Co, in the United Kingdom in 1903. He was then appointed Works Manager, Dorman, Long & Co in 1905. He became an expert on the production of steel and was a member of the Steel Committee of Lloyd’s Register.
During the Great War he was a Member of the British Government’s Munitions Committee and converted the Dorman, Long & Co works into a munitions manufacturing site. Lawrence was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1918 for boosting wartime production of munitions and steel.
He was appointed a Director, Dorman, Long & Co in 1924 having been General Manager of the company’s works at Middlesbrough since 1915. He travelled to Sydney in connection with the tender for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He returned to England in March 1924, following the signing of the contract to build the bridge with the New South Wales Government. During his nine month absence he briefed the company directors on the tender and planned for the bridge construction. In the time he was in England he designed the layouts for the Milson’s Point workshops and procured the plant and equipment to support the bridge construction. One of his crucial innovations for the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the use of 12 inch by 12 inch angles, never rolled or used before. Lawrence could apparently drive a rolling mill as he made the prototypes personally – scrapping 200 tons of steel in the process.
Construction of the bridge began on March 26, 1925. He lived in Sydney from 1925 to 1932 whilst he worked as Director of Construction Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lawrence and his wife lived in one of the top floors of the Astor Flats at 123-125 Macquarie Street, Sydney, with a clear view of the construction site.
He was also a Director of related companies whilst in Australia such as Southern Blue Metal Quarries (appointed 1926), Southern Portland Cement (appointed 1927) and Australian Iron and Steel Limited (appointed 1928). These companies were necessary to achieve the high level of local content promised by Dorman, Long & Co.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was a major undertaking, employing 1,400 men at its peak, consisting of 550,000 components, having 4.5 million rivets and involving 4,500 drawings. Lawrence thought that his greatest challenge would be recruiting a competent workforce but he was pleasantly surprised at the capability and work ethic of those he recruited. He was the first person to walk across the bridge albeit on a timber plank high in the superstructure.
He left Sydney in 1932 to return to London and became Managing Director of Dorman, Long & Co, a position he held until 1937. During this time he built a new large steel works at Redcar, located between Leeds and Newcastle in England. He then became a Board Director, Dorman, Long & Co, a position he held up to his death.
The Australian Government supported his appointment as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in January 1933.
In August 1932, Lawrence became the first Honorary Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia for being responsible for the successful erection of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as Director of Construction with Dorman, Long & Co and his record of engineering achievements.
In 1933 he was made a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers London. He was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London.
Lawrence died May 5, 1938, London aged 66 years. He was survived by his wife Margaret. He is buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester.
Ennis Road in Milson’s Point, Sydney is named after him.
References:
Graces Guide, 1938 Obituary, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Lawerence Ennis).
Sydney Morning Herald, 27.3.1924, p. 4.
Sydney Morning Herald, 23.10.1926, p. 17.
Sydney Morning Herald, 30.8.1927, p. 10.
Sydney Morning Herald, 18.5.1928, p. 11.
Sydney Morning Herald, 11.3.1929, p. 11.
Sydney Morning Herald, 24.1.1930, p. 10.
Sydney Morning Herald, 8.4.1932, p. 8.
Sydney Morning Herald, 2.1.1933, p. 6.
Sydney Morning Herald, 7.5.1938, p. 11.
Daily Commercial News and Shipping List, Sydney, 9.5.1938, p. 5.
Compiled by Chris Fitzhardinge and Bill Phippen July 8, 2026
