Rustat Blake

BLAKE, Rustat, BA MIME MICE MIEAust (1871–1940)

Rustat Blake was born on May 16, 1871 in Gosford, Hampshire, England the son of Samuel Turner Blake and Mary Blake nee Hemsted. He was educated at Pembroke College Cambridge where he graduated BA in 1892. He then undertook pupillage at Messrs James Simpson and Company, Messrs J Wolfe Barry and with HM Brunel.

For the most part Blake's professional career was devoted to railways; he was in charge of the working survey of the southern section of the Callander and Oban Railway's extension from Conmel, assistant resident engineer on the construction of the widening of the Metropolitan Railway between St. John's Wood Road and Harrow, and the extension from Ealing to Harrow.

At the turn of the century he invested significant capital into the Standard Motor Company.

In 1902 he was appointed Chief Assistant to Sir John Wolfe, Barry and Partners where he supervised the preparation of the plans and sections for the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway from South to West Kensington, and the widening of the District Railway from West Kensington to Hammersmith.

During the period 1915-18 he was engaged as chief inspection officer for the Department of Explosives Supply, Ministry of Munitions especially in connection with the equipment of high explosives factories.

Blake became a partner with Sir J. Wolfe Barry and Partners in 1918 and held this appointment until 1922, when he joined Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners.

He travelled extensively to Australia providing advice on rail and port works. He was engaged to provide advice to the Royal Commission investigating standard gauge rail for Australia in 1921 and 1922.

In February 1929 he travelled to Western Australia and was the author of the Gibb Report on the future of the port of Fremantle.

He died on April 14, 1940 in Surrey, England.