Archibald Muir Hutchinson
HUTCHINSON, Archibald Muir MIEAust AMICE (1883 - 1969)
Archibald was born near Blackwood, Victoria on October 15, 1883. He was the elder son of teacher John Hutchinson and his wife Euphemia (Effie) Hutchinson (nee Muir). His father died suddenly, in September 1886, at Ararat, when Archibald was aged only two years and his mother was left to raise him and his infant brother David.
The family moved to West Geelong so that Archibald and his brother could attend Geelong Grammar. Archibald was a successful student winning subject prizes in his final year, 1900.
In February 1901, Archibald joined the WA Public Service and in September 1902 was appointed as an Engineering Cadet. By 1906, he was working in the Public Works Department (PWD) Engineering Surveys Branch.
On June 2, 1915, he married Emily Elizabeth Paterson Ridley, at St John’s Church, Perth.
From 1917 to July 1919, Archibald was seconded to the Albany Water Board as Water Board Engineer.
Between 1921 to 1923, Archibald was the Resident Engineer on the Herdsman Lake Drainage Project. He then worked as a hydraulic engineer in the PWD rising to the position of Principal Assistant in the Hydraulic Branch.
Archibald was accepted as an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (London) in 1906. He was active in the Institution of Engineers Australia, being a founding Associate Member in 1919 and becoming a full Member in 1929. He was Chairman of the WA Division in 1928.
Archibald died on February 12, 1969 in Malvern, Victoria, aged 85. He was survived by his wife Emily. His brother David had followed him to Western Australia and had also worked as an engineer in the WA Public Service but had died in 1933 at the Wooroloo Sanitorium.
Compiled by Chris Fitzhardinge, January 6, 2024.
References:
Geelong Advertiser, 13.12.1900, p3
1905 WA Public Service List
Sun (Kalgoorlie), 28.1.1906, p6
The West Australian, 15.6.1915, p1
The West Australian, 24.1.1927, p10
