Robert Oswald Law
LAW, Robert Oswald, (1867-1947)
Robert was born on September 20, 1867, in Ballarat, the son of engineer/contractor David Law and his wife Georgina Law (nee Watson).
David Law was responsible for the timber work and bridges on the construction of the rail line between Perth and Fremantle built in 1879, including the North Fremantle Rail Bridge. David went on to construct the Rockingham Jetty in 1883.
Robert remained in Victoria until 1881 with his education being at the Commercial College, Ballarat. Robert came to Western Australia and was then apprenticed to his father in 1881 to become an engineer/contractor. An early project for Robert was the construction of the Rockingham Jetty.
David Law died on January 2, 1886, during the contract for construction of a wharf at Derby. Robert took over that contract and successfully completed it.
Robert was the successful tenderer for the 1888 extension of the Fremantle Jetty. In 1891, Robert formed a partnership with William Atkins and was successful in the tender for the Armadale-Pinjarra section of the new rail line to Bunbury. Atkins and Law were very successful contractors completing the Perth Children’s Hospital, the Perth Mint, Boans Emporium, Surrey Chambers, Orient Hotel Fremantle and the Brunswick-Collie rail line. At Cue, the partnership constructed the Government Offices, Post Office, Mining Registrar, Warden’s Court and Police Station.
Robert also was successful in winning tenders in the eastern states such as works on Prince's Pier (1914), Station Pier (1922) and Ocean Pier at the Port of Melbourne, the central pier at Victoria Dock and the concrete piling of the wharves on the Yarra River. Additional projects were the Warrnambool breakwater extension and a section of the outer harbour wharf in South Australia.
Robert was also involved with building material companies such as a timber mill at Roleystone, Helena Vale Brickworks, the Cardup Steam Pressed Brick Company and Armadale Brickworks. In 1911 he founded Monier Pipe to produce concrete pipes. By 1913, Robert controlled the majority of brick production in the state. He was involved in the merger of a number of brickworks in 1906 to create the Metropolitan Brick Company (Metro Brick) and became Chairman. He was Chairman of Swan Portland Cement and Hadfields (WA) Ltd as well as being a Director of James Hardie.
In 1902, the partnership with William Atkins was dissolved and replaced by a partnership with William’s son, Guildford Stephen Hastings Atkins and renamed Law and Atkins. The last project completed under this partnership appears to be the construction of the Port Hedland Jetty in 1908.
On March 4, 1902, Robert married Pauline Bertha Brooking. They had seven children (Muriel Ailsa, Maragret Dorothy (died 1908), Gordon Oswald Sherlock, Robert Dudley, Margaret Dorothy, Kathleen Bertha (died 1915) and Bertha Mary).
Robert was active in sporting and business associations including being a founding Member and inaugural President of the WA Master Builders and Contractors Association and President of the Royal Automobile Club of WA from 1918 to 1921.
Robert died on September 22, 1947, aged 80 years. He was survived by his wife and five of their seven children. Following his death, his son, Gordon, became General Manager of the Metropolitan Brick Company.
References:
Bryce Moore, From the Ground Up, University of Western Australia Press, 1987.
J. S. Battye (ed), Cyclopedia of Western Australia, vol 1 (Adel, 1912).
West Australian, 19.7.1902, p. 5.
Ballarat Star, 4.10.1923, p. 2.
West Australian, 23.9.1947, p. 8.
Palassis Architects, Maylands Brickworks Conservation Plan, March 2013.
