Joshua Clyde Wiggins
Joshua Clyde Wiggins
(1925 - 2002)
Joshua Clyde Wiggins was born on 31 January at Mascot, Sydney. His father was a railway porter at Sydney Central station. Wiggins early life included an interest in horse racing and the beginnings of aviation at Mascot where famous aviators visited.
He attended South Kensington Public School, Kings Street School, Mascot, Gardeners Road School, Central Technical School, Ultimo, and Fort Street School. Wiggins was interested in racing cycling and a member of Mascot Amateur Cycling Club.
His first employment was with the NSW Department of Main Roads as a cadet draftsman between 1942 and 1950, interrupted by his war service with the RAAF between 1943 and 1946, during which time he served in Darwin and witnessed the bombing.
In 1949 married Vilma Dawn Groves. They had one child, Michelle, born in 1952.
Upon demobilisation he resumed study at Sydney Technical College in civil engineering leading later to a Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Sydney University. He also held a certificate in Traffic Planning and Control from the University of NSW and Ordinance 4 Certificates in both Town & Country Planning and as a Local Government Engineer.
From 1950 to 1954 he was an assistant engineer with Randwick Municipal Council and briefly in 1954 Deputy Chief Engineer at Hurstville Municipal Council. In 1955 he moved to Botany Municipal Council where in a long career until 1989 he was Chief Engineer, and Town Planner, Deputy General Manager, Technical & Professional Services. His work included the diversion of the Cooks River and the development of Kingsford Smith Airport and the establishment of Port Botany.
Wiggins was a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia serving on the Civil Branch committee between 1972 and 1990, being the chairman in 1977. He was on the Transportation Branch Committee in 1975 and 1976 and the Sydney Division Committee between 1977 and 1991. On this committee he was Vice-Chairman in 1984 and 1985, Chairman in 1986 and Treasurer from 1989 to 1991. Wiggins was a Councillor of the Institution of Engineers Australia between 1985 and 1990, and Chairman of the Professional Engineers Promotion Committee between 1987 and 1990.
Outside Engineers Australia he was the Sydney Division representative on the NSW Council of Professions, where he was Vice-Chairman in 1990. Wiggins was a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning & Management of which body he was a foundation member and past President.
He was a life member of the Local Government Engineers Association of NSW, and a past president of its south-east metropolitan group. Wiggins was active in Botany Rotary Club being vice president in 1984/85 and president in 1986/87.
Joshua Clyde Wiggins died on 16 August 2002.
To access an oral history interview with Joshua Clyde Wiggins please use this link:'
