Donald Victor Darwin
Encyclopedia
Donald Victor Darwin, M.M., M.C.E., M.I.C.E., M.I.E. (Aust.), CE., F.A.P.I., civil engineer, was born on 11 October 1896 at Redhill, South Australia
, son of Henry Darwin, a native-born bank manager, and his wife Jessie Louise Cleta, née Gmeiner. He was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide and the University of Melbourne, gaining his BCE in 1920, and subsequently the MCE. He interrupting his University studies to serve with the 10th Field
Coy Engineers, AIF, in France and Belgium from 1916 as a Sapper. In 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal. He was discharged in 1919.
Darwin's professional career was entirely with the Victorian Country Roads Board
(CRB), which he joined in 1920 as Assistant Engineer, becoming Bridge Engineer in 1924, responsible for the design and construction of highway bridges throughout Victoria. One of his major projects was to design the new bridge over the Barwon River
on the Princes Highway
in Geelong.
In 1929 he was promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer under founding chairman William Calder. He became Assistant Chief Engineer in 1928, Chief Engineer in 1941, and was appointed to the three-member board of the C.R.B. in 1940, becoming Chairman in 1949 on the retirement of Chairman W L Dale. During World War 2, the CRB engineers were engaged on road, airfield and other civil engineering defence works in Victoria and Northern Territory.
From 1940 to 1949, despite his various other roles, Darwin was a part-time Lecturer in Roads and Street at the University of Melbourne. Darwin also became a Councillor of the Institution of Engineers Australia Victoria Division (IEAust)from 1949, and President in 1957. He was also appointed to the Tourist Development Authority in 1958, retired in June 1962 but continued to assist the Australian Road Research Board
. He died 8 March 1972 at Malvern.
Redhill, South Australia
- Governance :Redhill is in the Port Pirie Regional Council local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Frome and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Grey.-History:...
, son of Henry Darwin, a native-born bank manager, and his wife Jessie Louise Cleta, née Gmeiner. He was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide and the University of Melbourne, gaining his BCE in 1920, and subsequently the MCE. He interrupting his University studies to serve with the 10th Field
Coy Engineers, AIF, in France and Belgium from 1916 as a Sapper. In 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal. He was discharged in 1919.
Darwin's professional career was entirely with the Victorian Country Roads Board
Country Roads Board
The Country Roads Board was the government authority responsible for the construction and maintenance of main roads in the State of Victoria, Australia between 1913 and 1983. Its first chairman was William Calder who remained in charge until his death in 1928...
(CRB), which he joined in 1920 as Assistant Engineer, becoming Bridge Engineer in 1924, responsible for the design and construction of highway bridges throughout Victoria. One of his major projects was to design the new bridge over the Barwon River
Barwon River (Victoria)
The Barwon River rises in the Otway Ranges of Victoria, Australia, runs through Winchelsea and the city of Geelong, where it is joined by the Moorabool River, and enters the sea at Barwon Heads after passing through Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula...
on the Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
in Geelong.
In 1929 he was promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer under founding chairman William Calder. He became Assistant Chief Engineer in 1928, Chief Engineer in 1941, and was appointed to the three-member board of the C.R.B. in 1940, becoming Chairman in 1949 on the retirement of Chairman W L Dale. During World War 2, the CRB engineers were engaged on road, airfield and other civil engineering defence works in Victoria and Northern Territory.
From 1940 to 1949, despite his various other roles, Darwin was a part-time Lecturer in Roads and Street at the University of Melbourne. Darwin also became a Councillor of the Institution of Engineers Australia Victoria Division (IEAust)from 1949, and President in 1957. He was also appointed to the Tourist Development Authority in 1958, retired in June 1962 but continued to assist the Australian Road Research Board
. He died 8 March 1972 at Malvern.