Edgar Gliddon
GLIDDON, Edgar Howard, MWAIE (1855–1934)
Edgar Howard Gliddon was born in Adelaide on April 27, 1855, the son of banker Arthur William Howard Gliddon and his wife Marguerite Louise Gliddon née Bellairs. A W H Gliddon was a pioneer of South Australia, arriving there on the Africaine in 1838.
Around 1876, Edgar Gliddon joined the Survey Department of South Australia, working there for two years. In early 1879 he set up in private practice as a surveyor in the Laura area. At Laura he was also appointed Clerk of the Booyoolee Council, Country Agent for Mercantile Insurance Co, Clerk of Courts and Commissioner of Declarations.
On January 7, 1878, Gliddon married Emily Sarah Whitcomb, and together they had nine children, four born in South Australia and five born in Western Australia.
In June 1885, Edgar Gliddon travelled to Western Australia on the SS Franklin to take up a position with the engineering and architectural practice of James William Wright and Charles Anthony Paterson. Gliddon’s wife, Emily, followed Edgar four months later, travelling to Western Australia in October 1885. By December 1885, Gliddon was a Director in the float of the Herald Newspaper and Printing Works, the company that ultimately produced Perth's long running Daily News newspaper.
Edgar Gliddon was appointed Supervisor and Surveyor for the Town of Fremantle on April 19, 1887. He took on the additional role of Collector on August 23, 1888. On August 4, 1891 he took on the positions of Supervisor and Surveyor for the Town of Fremantle, and continued in these roles until January 1899. One of his major projects was installing jarrah blocks to upgrade Fremantle streets, including High Street. Jarrah blocking streets was also one of his projects project when he joined the City of Perth as City Engineer in January 1899.
On June 30, 1903, Gliddon resigned from the City of Perth to take up an Inspector of Lands position with the WA Department of Lands and Surveys. He returned to the position of City of Perth Engineer in 1912, and he continued this role until his retirement on July 18, 1919. He then took up farming in the Wheatbelt.
Edgar Gliddon died on September 30, 1934 at Victoria Park and was survived by his wife, Emily and seven of their nine children. One of their sons, Oscar Leslie Howard Gliddon had married T C Hodgson’s daughter, Gladys Serena Pemberton nee Hodgson in 1936.
Edgar Gliddon was a Member and Council Member of the WA Institution of Engineers. He was also a founding Member of the WA Town Planning Association in 1916.
References:
Cumming Papers
The Area’s Express (Booyoolee), 26.2.1879, p2
Daily News, 4.6.1887, p3
The Umpire (Fremantle), 28.1.1899, p3
Dr John J Taylor, James William Wright (1854 1917)
West Australian, 3.7.1903, p3
West Australian, 22.7.1903, p9
Sunday Times, 20.7.1919, p2
