Awdry Francis Julius
Awdry Francis Julius was born on 13 November 1900 in Western Australia where his father, the noted engineer George Julius, was working with the WA government railways.
The family came to Sydney in 1907, when George Julius set up as a consulting engineer. Awdry attended Sydney Grammar School and Sydney University between 1919 and 1922, graduating as an electrical and mechanical engineer.
He worked in the USA for two years with General Electric Coy who took on university graduates from all over the world to do their testing work of all the plant that they manufactured before it went out to the customer. Graduates moved around the shop to all the different types of equipment, but they were under no obligation to stay with GEC or for them to provide a job afterwards. Julius found that this was extremely good experience. He returned to Sydney 1925, when he joined his fathers consulting engineering practice which by this time had evolved into Julius Poole & Gibson, as William Poole and Eric Gibson had joined Julius Senior. Awdry worked as an employee until became a partner in 1944, retiring in 1975.
Upon his return to Australia Awdry had married Agnes Yolande Wood Wansey in 1926. After her death in 1970 he married Edna Mary Drane, nee Thomas, in 1972.
Awdry Francis Julius died on 2 November 1989.
For details of his work with Julius, Poole & Gibson, as well as some history of that firm and its partners, see this interview with Awdry Julius.
Interview Available here.
To access an oral history interview with Awdry Francis Julius recorded by Engineering Heritage Sydney please use this link:'
https://heritage.engineersaustralia.org.au/wiki/Oral_Histories_Sydney
