Harold Atwell
ATWELL, Harold George, AMWAIE, MLGHE (1882-1955)
Harold was born in December 1882, at Fremantle, the son of firewood merchant Henry Atwell and his wife Sarah Phoebe Atwell (nee Pusey). Harold was one of 14 children.
Harold was educated at Fremantle Grammar School and Way College Adelaide. He matriculated through Adelaide University in 1900.
On October 1, 1901, Harold joined the Public Works Department, as an engineering cadet, under C Y O’Connor. As part of his cadetship he worked in the Engineering Surveys, Railway Construction and Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Branches of the Public Works Department. He completed his cadetship in May 1906 and was engaged as an assistant engineer in July 1906. During the period from July 1906 to October 1918 he was principally employed on metropolitan, sewerage, water supply and drainage works, and on survey, design and construction of country water supplies, irrigation and drainage.
In 1919, he joined the City of Perth as Assistant Engineer. He was promoted to City Engineer on October 5, 1925.
He married Una Gladys Amy Exley in 1907 at Fremantle. They had five children, Phyliss, Henry, John, Stella and Lloyd.
Harold retired from the City of Perth on May 5, 1948. He left a significant legacy having played a key role in developing infrastructure for City Beach, upgrading and landscaping Mounts Bay Road and establishing efficient bitumen production and quarrying operations to support a major upgrade of Perth’s roads. He was succeeded by Charles Searl Paterson as City Engineer.
Harold was a founding Associate Member of the Western Australian Institute of Engineers in 1910. He was also a Member of the Local Government and Highways Engineers (now IPWEA).
Harold died on April 3, 1955, aged 72. He was survived by his wife Gladys and their five children.
References:
West Australian, 3.11.1931, p. 14.
West Australian, 22.8.1932, p. 10.
Daily News, 22.6.1934, p. 6.
West Australian, 14.5.1948, p. 3.
