James Stoddart
STODDART, James, MWAIE (1858-1944)
James was born at Smythes Creek, Victoria, on July 27, 1858. He was the eldest child of publican George Stoddart and his wife Sarah Ann Stoddart (nee Simpson).
James grew up in Smythes Creek (which was renamed Smythesdale in 1864) where his father was the landlord of the Nugget Hotel. James matriculated in 1879 after attending state schools in Smythesdale. He was placed under the instruction of Melbourne University engineering graduate and Smythesdale resident, John Lynch, to study surveying and engineering.
In 1882, James was licensed as a surveyor and commenced work with the Victorian Railways. He surveyed many new rail alignments such as Colac to Apollo Bay, Boort to Quambatook and Boort to Budgerum. He also surveyed new rail lines at Jeparit and Korumburra.
In 1894, James was part of a group of Victorian engineers and surveyors recruited to support the expansion of infrastructure in Western Australia, led by Charles Yelverton O’Çonnor. James joined the WA Public Works Department (PWD) in September 1894. An early task was to survey the rail alignment from Southern Cross to Coolgardie. He had a team of 20 men under his control. Another project in 1894 was the survey of the proposed rail line from Yalgoo to Cue. James was also involved with surveying and cost estimating the deviation of the Eastern Railway, involving a tunnel at Swan View, and the rail extension to Wickepin. He also assessed a more direct rail route from Collie to Bunbury.
James was appointed Chief Engineering Surveyor PWD in 1901. He was the Resident Engineer on the construction of the Big Brook Railway in 1914 and the Esperance Salmon Gums railway in 1916. His final project was the construction of the Busselton Margaret River railway that commenced in July 1922.
He retired from the PWD in July 1923 as a First Class Assistant Engineer.
He was a founding Member of the WA Institution of Engineers (WAIE) and a committee member of WAIE from 1910 to 1913.
James married Ellen Ann (Nelly) Hooper at Porepunkah, Victoria, on March 3, 1888. They had two sons Eric William Hooper and Ralph James Hooper as well as two daughters, Eileen Beatrice Hooper and Lily Marjorie Hooper.
His eldest son, Eric William Hooper Stoddart, was one of the first to enrol in the engineering course at the University of Western Australia in 1913 and one of only seven students to pass their first year exams in 1913. His study was interrupted by his enlistment in the AIF in 1915 but he was able to graduate in October 1920. After starting his career with the PWD in the North West of Western Australia, Eric went on to be the Director of Works Northern Territory and Resident Engineer for the Pearce Airport.
James died on April 18, 1944 aged 86 years. He was survived by his four children. His wife, Nelly, predeceased him in 1927.
References:
Melbourne Argus, 25.12.1879, p. 7.
Ballarat Star, 24.10.1882, p. 2.
Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 21.4.1888, p. 4.
Melbourne Leader, 15.7.1993, p. 25.
West Australian, 7.11.1894, p. 5.
WA Public Service List 1905.
West Australian, 3.7.1923, p. 6.
South Western News, 14.11.1924, p. 3.
West Australian, 20.4.1944, p. 2.
