W. E. Wainwright


William Edward Wainwright, commonly referred to as W. E. Wainwright, was a mine manager in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

History

Wainwright was born in London, the son of schoolmaster Edward Harley Wainwright, and his wife Maria Wainwright, née Brooks.
In 1879 they left for Adelaide where E. H. Wainwright had accepted a position as Third Master of Prince Alfred College.
Wainwright was educated by private tuition and was successful in the 1888 University examinations.
He enrolled with the School of Mines in 1890, achieving excellent grades in the first year but missing a continuing scholarship through a change in criteria relating to technical drawing.
He graduated with an Associate Diploma in 1892; with Charles John Whillas the second and third to gain this recognition .
In 1894 his paper on mining theory was given a pass mark by examiner Captain H. R. Hancock of Kadina giving him that second Diploma. That same year Wainwright was appointed assistant manager of the Ivanhoe gold mine, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, where he was in charge of the battery, which he held for two years before taking a similar position at the newly established Queen Margaret mine, Coolgardie.
In 1898, he joined the Broken Hill South company and was put in charge of the metallurgical department in 1900, and effected an immediate increase in the percentage of valuable metal extracted.
He had been appointed surface manager only a few months when a serious rockfall below the 500 ft level killed six men and left others trapped.
With the resignation of underground manager Samuel Mayne in 1903, Wainwright was made general manager of the mine and of the company in 1918.
In July 1920, Wainwright was transferred to the company's head office in Melbourne, and retired on 30 June 1937. Andrew Fairweather succeeded him on both occasions.
He died at his home in Caulfield, Victoria and his remains were cremated.

Other activities

  • Wainwright was hon. secretary. Broken Hill Mining Managers' Association 1906–1915.
  • Wainwright was vice-president of Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy 1916–18 and elected president in 1919 and again in 1930. He led the Australia delegation to the 1930 Empire Mining Congress in 1930. He served as vice-president again in 1916–18, 1933, 1934 and received that body's Mines Medal in 1937.

Family

Edward Harley Wainwright married Maria? Marian? Brooks in England, left for Adelaide 1879, taught at Prince Alfred College, St Peter's College. Elected 1883 to the Royal Society (SA branch).
Charles Wainwright married Annie Brooke in England and emigrated to Australia, possibly on the same ship as his brother. He married again, to Emma Brook on 6 January 1888. He joined Education Department in 1879, was headmaster of public schools Narracoorte, Eudunda, and Murray Bridge.
  • John William Wainwright
  • Annie Wainwright