Events Home

Western Australian Engineering Eras

Six phases in Western Australia's development have been identified in this history of engineering in the State. After some debate over the range of dates to be included in each phase, the author team defined the eras, for the purposes of this website, as follows:

Era	Period	Name
1	Before 1826	The Beginning
2	1826 - 1884	Early Days
3	1884 - 1914	The Golden Age / Engineering Rush
4	1915 - 1945	WW I, Depression and WW II
5	1946 - 1962	Post War Development
6	1963 - 1985	Resources Boom
7	1986 -	Economic Consolidation

All profiled engineers, and specific engineering events, projects and developments, are categorised herein by Era, and readers can focus on any one era, should they wish to do so. More detail of the engineering achievements in each era are described below.

Pre 1826: Aboriginal Technology

Western Australia has been occupied by Aboriginal people for at least 45,000 years. Survival in a harsh landscape required a sophisticated understanding of the land and use of appropriate technology. This technology included the use of fire, mining and fish traps. Beginning at Albany in 1826, the introduction of European technology led to a loss of Aboriginal technology. This section is a start in understanding that technology.

1826 - 1884: The Early Years

In the Early Years, Western Australia’s economy grew in very distinct cycles. After the initial surge of optimism, there was a long period of stagnation. With the arrival of convicts and the Royal Engineers, the construction of new roads, bridges, wells, Government House and Town Hall had a major impact. When convict transport ceased, telegraphs and rail were constructed but growth was still slow.

1885 - 1914: The Golden Age/Engineering Rush

While gold was still the State's major source of income, this era saw the expansion of the timber, wool and agriculture industries. As the population increased from 36,000 to more than 320,000, there was a massive development of rail, port, water supply, telegraph and electricity infrastructure. This era also saw the introduction of telephones and wireless and the formation of the State's first University.

1915 - 1945 : WWI, Depression, WWII

The period 1915 to 1945 was challenging with strikes and riots as well as the impacts of droughts, two world wars and the Great Depression. Throughout this period, the wheat and manufacturing industries provided strong growth with gold playing an important role in stabilising the economy. The Western Australia of 1945 was very different to 1915 with technology helping an isolated State connect with the rest of the world through wireless, telephony and aviation.

1946 - 1962: Post War Development

The period after 1945 saw a rise in the development of the State’s resource sector into a world scale industry and Western Australia’s increasing access to the rest of the world. Engineering design and construction of plant and equipment was largely sourced from overseas engineering companies however it laid the foundation for a robust local capability to emerge in subsequent years.

1963 - 1985: Increasing Momentum

Western Australia's rapid development during this era required a significant increase in engineering activity. Engineering was required for the new resource projects and for the significant growth in the housing, utility and transportation needs of a rapidly increasing population. This era saw the development of the iron ore and gas industries along with vast improvement in the rail, road, air and telecommunication links with the rest of Australia.