Thomas Hale Woodroffe

Thomas Hale Woodroffe (1848-1938) of Victorian Railways

1848 March 18th. Born in London the son of Thomas Woodroffe, Chemist, and his wife Fanny Hale

1852 The family emigrated to Australia

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1938 Obituary

Mr. Thomas Hale Woodroffe, who rose from the position of an apprentice in the Railways Department in 1861 to become chief mechanical engineer and an acting railways commissioner before he retired in 1913, died yesterday In a private hospital in Malvern. He was aged 90 years.

Mr. Woodroffe was born in London.

He came to Victoria in 1852. In 1861 he became an apprentice. By January, 1884, he had been promoted to the position of an assistant engineer of the ways and works branch. In April, 1891, he was appointed chief assistant engineer for existing lines.

In June, 1893, he was appointed chief mechanical engineer of the rolling stock branch. Less than a year later he was appointed an acting railways commissioner.

While Mr. Woodroffe was in the department, railways revenue increased from £170,000 to £5,000,000 a year, and train mileage from 410,000 miles to 13,909,000 miles a year.

He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, and a member of the Victorian Institute of Engineers.

The burial will be private. Arrangements are being made by A. A. Sleight Pty. Ltd., St. Kilda road.

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