James Vincent Rooney
James Vincent Rooney (1926 - 2004)
James Vincent Rooney was born in Carlton, Sydney, in 1926 and grew up in Paterson in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle. He attended schools in Paterson, Maitland and Broadmeadow and did a pre-apprenticeship course at the Newcastle Technical High School in 1941 at the age of 14. In 1943 he was apprenticed at the State Dockyard in Newcastle, one of the biggest engineering undertakings in Australia at the time, as a fitter and turner. He spent the last 18 months of his apprenticeship as a trainee draughtsman in the Dockyard drawing room. He liked the work in the drawing room as it involved outside work testing designs on ships, such as going out to test one of the first warships, the Condamine, built at the Yard.
On leaving the Dockyard, he went to work with Morrison and Beaby Pty Ltd, starting work as a detail draughtsman. He was impressed by the development of this firm and the versatility of the outfit, making overhead cranes, valves, ships bells, etc. They did everything from designing, casting and building/ installing the equipment. In 1953 he became leading draughtsman and finally the chief draughtsman. Work at this time included huge valves for the Snowy Mountains scheme and several large overhead cranes.
In 1959 he became the major project engineer for the firm and was in charge of instigating the project, overseeing the design and making of the cranes, and installation. Cranes were supplied to Mt Isa Mines, New Zealand and sugar mills in Queensland.
In 1960 Morrison and Beaby had been bought out by Brambles Industries and he decided to leave the firm because of the consequent change in direction. At this time Rooney joined Metters Clow Pty Ltd, manufacturers of spun iron pipes in Melbourne.
In 1962 took a job with Mechanical Services Pty Ltd in Newcastle. 1964 he was offered a job with Hans Escher, one of the most prominent combustion engineers in the world, specialising in the design of tubular furnaces for grey and graphite iron as well as heat recovery systems.
Among projects undertaken at this time was one at the General Motors Fishermans Bend plant in Melbourne, and then work for International Harvester and Ford.
In 1966 Escher won a contract with Crysler at Point Lonsdale in Adelaide so Rooney and his family went to Adelaide to work on this project. On completing this project in 1967 the family moved back to Sydney, and Rooney remained with Hans Escher until 1974. He travelled widely with this work. During this latter part of his time with Escher he began to concentrate on the civil/structural engineering elements of projects.
In 1974 Rooney joined his brother, in his consulting civil and structural engineering business, Rooney & Bye Pty Ltd. The firm specialised in public grandstands. They designed the original stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground - the Brewongle and Bradman Stands. These were very innovative structures, with the Brewongle Stand cantilevered support for the roof, and the mast-stayed roof - possibly the first in Sydney. Rooney was also involved with the grandstands at the Sydney Turf Club at Canterbury and at Rosehill Racecourse.
In 1987, Rooney took over the running of the firm until he retired in 1991.
James Vincent Rooney died on 26 December 2004.
To access an oral history interview with James Vincent Rooney please use this link:'
{[Category:Biographies]]
