Ken Kelsall
KELSALL, Kenneth (Ken) John AM HonFIEAust (1921–2015)
Ken Kelsall was a pioneer in the development of the water industry in Western Australia. During his 51 year career, Ken was involved in the construction of 26 dams in WA, including the construction of Stirling Dam while a cadet, the raising of Mundaring Weir between 1949 and 1951, and as engineer in charge for construction of the Ord River Dam between 1968 and 1972.
Ken was born in Perth on 11 March 1921, the eldest child of Francis and Mildred Kelsall’s three children. Secondary school began at CBC College in St George's Terrace, and in 1938 Ken moved to Aquinas as a border for his final year. Ken’s leadership qualities were on display as he was Aquinas’s first college captain as well as school dux. Having gained a Government General Exhibition and entry to Engineering at the University of Western Australia, Ken commenced his career as a cadet engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD) in March 1939.
On graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in April 1942, Ken was involved in defence projects including oil storage tanks at South Fremantle, Albany and Onslow; and the construction of artillery emplacements at Garden Island. In 1946 Ken returned to UWA and was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) in April 1947. While in Onslow, Ken met Anne McGrath whom he married in Perth in November 1948. After the war, the Kelsalls moved around the South West constructing water supply works, before Ken returned to the PWD head office in the ‘Barracks’ in 1954.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s Ken was Chief Engineer Construction for the PWD during a period of major expansion of water supply services in the agricultural areas and the Pilbara. Ken led a large day labour work force that constructed all water, wastewater, irrigation and drainage works outside the Perth metropolitan area. In addition to the construction of major new water supply schemes for both the East (Port Hedland) and West (Dampier and Karratha) Pilbara associated with iron ore development, another major focus for Ken was the Ord Irrigation Area.
Irrigation in the Kimberley started in the 1940s with the PWD installing pumping equipment for agricultural research on the Ord. In 1961 the PWD constructed the Fitzroy River barrage and 17 mile dam to supply the Camballin Irrigation Area. In 1961 and 1962 the Ord River Diversion Dam was constructed by contract with an official opening by Prime Minister Menzies in July 1963. Ken Kelsall supervised all of the PWD’s construction activities and was very familiar with the Kimberley and the proposed Ord irrigation scheme, as while a young engineer in 1945 he had supervised investigative drilling of possible dam sites. When funding for the Ord River Dam was approved in 1967, Ken was the Superintendent for the construction contract from 1969 to 1972, with technical support from staff seconded from the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation.
In 1972 Ken was promoted to Deputy Director of Engineering PWD and in 1980 accepted appointment as Chief Engineer Metropolitan Water Authority. A metropolitan project that benefited from Ken’s experience and expertise was construction of the Cape Peron Pipeline and Ocean Outfall. The Cape Peron Ocean Outfall was national best practice at the time and this infrastructure is still serving the suburbs of Perth south of the Swan River.
Following his retirement in 1985, Ken continued his association with the water industry as Chairman of the Western Australian Water Resources Council and as a member of the new state wide Water Authority Board. In 1986 Ken was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the engineering profession, particularly in the development of WA’s water resources. Ken’s other achievements during his career included WA Division President (1976), National Vice President (1975 and 1976) and Honorary Fellow (1987).
Ken Kelsall was an energetic, inspiring leader with a real interest in mentoring the many young engineers under his charge. In the 1960’s he found time to provide occasional lectures on civil construction to students at UWA and wrote best practice documents on above ground pipelines, bitumen and roaded catchments and the sealing of earth dams, all critical activities for country water supplies at that time. Ken also had an interest in history and in 1977 wrote a history of the WA Division and, following his retirement, a brief history of Perth Water Supply. In 1998 he was actively involved with the WA National Trust in the ‘Golden Pipeline’ initiative and in 2004 assisted Engineering Heritage in recognition of the Ord River Dam.
While in the South West in the 1950’s, Ken developed an interest in trotting tracks. Working in an honorary capacity for country race clubs, he introduced engineering techniques in the design and construction of trotting tracks that enhanced their safety and durability. He became a respected authority around Australia culminating in the 1985 upgrade of Gloucester Park in Perth. In 1995 Ken received the prestigious James Brennan Award for his services to WA trotting.
Ken’s other interests included his family, his local catholic parish and Aquinas College. For Aquinas he served as president of the Old Aquinans' Association, published their magazine and provided occasional engineering services. Having been a foundation student at Aquinas, Ken had an extensive collection of memorabilia which he donated to the College to establish a heritage centre which now bears his name.
After a short illness, Ken Kesall died on 28 February 2015, just short of his 94th birthday. As stated by the Minister for Water Resources to the Western Australian Parliament:
"Without the dedication, skill and foresight of engineers such as Ken Kelsall, I doubt we would have the highly integrated and sustainable water supply that we enjoy today. Our State’s growth and our quality of life has thrived because of it."
References:
The West Australian, Bringing water to WA – Dam and Pipeline Builder, Obituaries, David Hough, 21 August 2015.
Engineering Heritage Australia, Interview with Ken Kelsall (11MB), Interviewed by Richard G Hartley, 2002.
J S Battye Library of West Australian History, KELSALL Kenneth John, Private Archives MN 2391, Acc 6349A.
IEAust presidents in Honors List, the journal of the Institution of Engineers Australia, v. 58, n. 12, June 27, 1986, p. 11.
Ms Mia Davies, Ken Kelsall – Tribute, Statement by Minister for Water, West Australian Parliament Hansard, Assembly, 11 March 2015.
Civil Engineers Australia, Kenneth ‘Ken’ Kelsall 1921-2015, v. 87, n. 3, April 2015, p. 65.
Publications:
Kelsall, K J, Canning Dam, a golden era, Metropolitan Water Authority, Perth, 1983, 12p., 1 map, 13 photos.
Cox, BG (Binnie and Partners), Kelsall, KJ (Water Authority of Western Australia), Construction of Cape Peron ocean outlet, Perth, WA, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1986-04, 80 (1), p. 465-491.
Cox, BG (Binnie and Partners), Kelsall, KJ (Water Authority of Western Australia), Cape Peron ocean outlet, Perth WA: discussion, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1987 04, 82 (1), p. 467 478.
Prepared by Mike Taylor for the centenary book 'Anything is possible' in March 2019.
