William Wallace Turner
William Wallace Turner (1878-1929)
1929 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM WALLACE TURNER was born in Sydney, in 1878. He was one of seven sons who all became engineers, and he was trained in the works of his father's firm, the Clyde Engineering Works of Sydney.
After five years' experience in the New South Wales Government's Electrical Department, he accepted the post of works manager of the Sydney Hydraulic and General Engineering Company. At this time he also gave lectures in mechanical drawing and applied mechanics at the Sydney Technical College.
Later Mr. Turner became managing director of the James Steel Engineering Company and during the period of the War he designed and manufactured several travelling kitchens which were presented to various reigments by the citizens of Sydney.
In 1916 he enlisted as an Australian munition worker, and was appointed works production officer for the manufacture of aeroplanes, under the direction of the Air Board in London.
In 1920 he was awarded a commission in the A.I.F. and went to Germany in his professional capacity on confidential investigations for the Government of Victoria.
On returning to Sydney he continued the manufacture and design of dredges, which are much used by the tin-mining companies. He patented a winch for bringing street arc lamps to the ground and a building material to be used as a cheap substitute for bricks.
At the time of his death, on 18th July 1929, he was engaged on the designs of the power station at the Burrunjuck Dam.
He became a Graduate of the Institution in 1901 and an Associate Member in 1904.