Person

Thorn, William (1902 - 1983)

Born
22 February 1902
Victoria, Australia
Died
22 February 1983
Melbourne East, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Electrical engineer

Summary

William Thorn, MEE MIEAust, was Engineer for Production, State Electricity Commission of Victoria from 1949 until he retired. Most of his career was with the SECV, having commenced there in 1929.

At one stage he was involved in providing electricity to Norfolk Island. The University of Melbourne Archives has a collection of his notes and other matter.

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Details

Chronology

1921
Career event - Student Member (StudIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1922
Talk - Paper and demonstration on "Wireless telephony", IEAust Junior and Student section, given at the University of Melbourne
1924
Education - Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE), University of Melbourne
1924 - 1925
Career position - Engineer, Metropolitan-Vickers Electric Co. Ltd, Manchester, England
1925 - 1926
Career position - Engineer, E.M.F. Electric Co., Melbourne
1927
Education - Master of Electrical Engineering (MEE), University of Melbourne
1927
Career event - Junior Member (JrIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1927
Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1927 - 1929
Career position - Electrical Department, Swinburne Technical College
1929 -
Career position - Electrical engineer, Electricity Supply Department, State Electricity Commission of Victoria
1938 - 1939
Career event - Overseas mission
1940
Award - Electrical Association Premium, Institution of Engineers Australia [with J. L. W. Harvey]
1941 - 1945
Military service - Ministry of Munitions
c. 1942 - 1945
Career position - Member of Standing Committee of Convocation, Engineering and Architecture, University of Melbourne
1944
Career event - Overseas mission
1948
Career event - Overseas mission
1948
Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1949 - c. 1967
Career position - Engineer for Production, State Electricity Commission of Victoria
13 Sep 1968
Career event - Fellow (FIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Members were designated Fellows on this date.]

Related Awards

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

The University of Melbourne Archives

  • William Thorn - Records; The University of Melbourne Archives. Details

Published resources

Edited Books

  • Alexander, Joseph A. ed., Who's who in Australia 1950 (Melbourne: Colorgravure Publications, 1950). Page 701-702. Details

Journal Articles

  • Thorn, W., 'The application of low load factor hydro-electric schemes to thermal generating systems, with particular reference to the cost and value of the electrical energy produced', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 24 (4-5) (1952), 87-97. Details
  • Thorn, William; Harvey, John Lewis Whilton, 'The application of shunt capacitors to distribution systems', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 13 (1) (1941), 1-13. Details
  • Thorn, William; Harvey, John Lewis Whilton; Wright, C. E.; Clark, E. V., 'The application of shunt capacitors to distribution systems (Discussions and communications)', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 13 (8) (1941), 190-193. Details

Resources

Theses

See also

  • Institution of Engineers Australia, 'Twenty-fifth Annual Report [1944]', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 17 (1-2) (1945), 10-28. 'Prizes - Electrical Association Premium (1940 Award), to Mr William Thorn, MEE AMIEAust, Melbourne Division, for the paper "The application of shunt capacitors to distribution systems." It was recorded that Mr John Lewis Whilton Harvey, BCE BEE, Junior, Melbourne Division, was a joint author of the paper', p.13. Details

Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 28 January 2026

EOAS ID: biogs/P001357b.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
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