Ernest de Burgh

Ernest de Burgh
Born
Ernest Macartney de Burgh

(1863-01-18)18 January 1863
Ireland
Died3 April 1929(1929-04-03) (aged 66)
EducationRathmines School, Dublin
Alma materRoyal College of Science for Ireland
Known forRoads engineer
SpouseConstance M Yeo (1888-1929)
ChildrenThomas de Burgh

Ernest Macartney de Burgh (English: /dəˈbɜːr/ də-BUR; 18 January[1] 1863 – 3 April 1929[2]) was an Irish-born Australian civil engineer, chief-engineer for water supply and sewerage in New South Wales.

Engineering in Australia

De Burgh then migrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the Orient 21 March 1885.[1] Travelling to Sydney de Burgh began working for the New South Wales public works department and was engaged on survey work for Sydney's southern outfall sewer.[1]

Later life and legacy

De Burgh was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, and was twice winner of the Telford premium. De Burghs Bridge over the Lane Cove River, Sydney, is named after him.[1] The De Burgh Dam near the Burrinjuck Dam was also named after him. The dam is considered to be the first reinforced-concrete thin arch dam in Australia.[3]

He married Constance Mary, née Yeo, on 20 March 1888 who survived him along with two sons and a daughter. (Thomas de Burgh also an engineer with MWS&DB)

De Burgh retired on 22 November 1927 and died of tuberculosis at Vaucluse,[1] Sydney on 3 April 1929.

De Burgh timbertruss

Ernest De Burgh's bridges were the fourth type of timber truss bridge in a series of five used. These included 1865 Old PWD, 1884 McDonald, 1894 Allan, 1899 de Burgh and 1905 Dare. Each was a technical improvement on its predecessor.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Antill, J. M. (1981). "Ernest Macartney de Burgh (1863–1929)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 8. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  2. ↑ "MR. E. M. DE BURGH". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 471. 5 April 1929. p. 17. Retrieved 30 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Trove".

Bibliography