Davenport, Marjory Winifred (1924 - 2003)

Summary

Winifred Davenport, AM FIEAust MRINA, a marine engineer, Queensland Harbours and Marine Department was closely involved with the design of all Queensland coastal vessels and marine civil engineering works from 1950 until 1975. She started her career in 1942 working as a cadet draughtswoman at the Evans Deakin shipyards at Kangaroo Point before joining the Department as a marine engineer and eventually rising to become an executive engineer.

In 1951, she was the first female corporate member of the Institution of Engineers Australia (AMIEAust), and in 1986 authored the book "Harbours and Marine : port and harbour development in Queensland from 1824 to 1985".

Her significant contribution to marine and civil engineering was recognised when the "Winifred Davenport Centre" at the Queensland Maritime Museum was opened and named in her honour in 1989; when she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1990; and when she was invited by special invitation of Council to be tranferred to the grade of Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust) in 1991. In 2003, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects presented her with a certificate commemorating 45 Years continuous membership of the Institution.

Details

Chronology

1936

Career event - Student Member (StudIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

1942 - 1950

Career position - Cadet draughtswoman, Evans Deakin shipyards, Kangaroo Point

1946

Education - Diploma in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (DipMechElec), Brisbane Central Technical College [First female graduate in this field in Queensland]

1950 - 1989

Career position - Associate engineer, rising to executive engineer, Harbours and Marine Department, Queensland

1951

Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [First female corporate member]

1958

Career event - Associate Member (AMRINA), Royal Institution of Naval Architects

1960s

Career position - Official measurer, Olympic class yachts, Queensland

1960s

Career event - Designed and supervised construction of the hydrographic survey ship Trigla

1968

Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Associate Members were designated Members on this date.]

1971

Career event - Member (MRINA), Royal Institution of Naval Architects

1986

Career event - Book published Harbours and Marine : port and harbour development in Queensland from 1824 to 1985

1989

Life event - Retired from Harbours and Marine Department, Queensland

1989

Award - "Winifred Davenport Centre", Queensland Maritime Museum - opened and named in her honour

1990

Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to marine and civil engineering

1991

Award - Fellow (FIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [by 'Special invitation of Council' 20 May 1991]

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Davenport, Winifred, Harbours and Marine : port and harbour development in Queensland from 1824 to 1985 (Brisbane: Department of Harbours and Marine, 1986), 883 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• 'Winifred Davenport FIEAust', Engineers Australia, 63 (12) (1991), 45. Details
• Davenport, Winifred, 'A place for women in professions [Diamond Jubilee feature article]', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 51 (20) (1979), 37. Details

Newspaper Articles

• 'First Queensland girl to gain Diploma', The telegraph (Brisbane) (1946), 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188442179. Details

Reports

• Harbours and Marine - Annual Report 1988-89 (Queensland Government, 1990), 76 pp. https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/1990/4690T62.pdf. See p.41. Details

Resources

• Winifred Davenport, Queensland Maritime Museum, 2020, https://maritimemuseum.com.au/eventsandexhibitions/exhibitions/womenatsea/winifred-davenport/. Details