OLDHAM, Frederick Hugh (Hugh) MICE MRSI AMIEAust (1864-1939)
Hugh Oldham was born at Kapunda, South Australia, on August 27, 1864 the son of Frederick Bagot Oldham and his wife Marion Elizabeth Oldham (nee Stock). He was educated at the Glenelg Grammar School and then commenced a cadetship with the Public Works Department, South Australia in 1882. In 1887 he moved to Renmark to take responsibility for the development of the Renmark and Mildura irrigation schemes. He also undertook the initial survey for the Town of Renmark.
Oldham then came to Western Australia to take up an appointment as District Engineer for the Murchison in 1897 and held that position until 1901 when he returned to Perth to became the Acting Engineer, Water Supply. By 1903 he was Engineer for Water Supply and Sewerage. At this time he played a pivotal role in the development of bacterial treatment of sewerage and prepared designs for a Perth sewerage scheme. He became the Engineer for Agricultural and Town Water Supplies in 1913.
Hugh Oldham was a WA Institution of Engineers founding member and inaugural councillor. He was President in 1913 14. With the foundation of the national Institution of Engineers he was an inaugural councillor of the WA Division in 1920. He also lectured in Sanitary Engineering at the University of Western Australia.
From 1920 to 1925 Oldham returned to the Riverina in South Australia to be Resident Engineer, Chaffey. In 1928 he was advertising as a municipal engineer, irrigation engineer and licensed surveyor in Renmark.
In the 1930’s he returned to live in Nedlands, where he died on October 31, 1939.
References:
J. S. Battye (ed), Cyclopedia of Western Australia, vol 1 (Adel, 1912)
West Australian, 24.7.1903, p5
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record, 2.10.1925, p1
