Person

McArthur, Alan Grant (1923 - 1978)

Born
21 July 1923
Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Died
9 November 1978
Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Occupation
Forester

Summary

Alan McArthur was an expert in bushfire research. He devised systems for the forecasting of fire-hazard conditions which have been adopted world-wide, and improved controlled burning practices. McArthur was regularly asked to give advice during bushfire inquiries and at international conferences.

He collaborated with Harry Luke in writing "Bushfires in Australia" (1977) which established them as the most important figures in the understanding of Australian fire in the post-war period.

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Details

Chronology

1941 -
Career position - Joined the Forestry Commission of New South Wales
1945
Education - Diploma in Forestry, Australian Forestry School in Canberra
1945
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sydney
1951 - 1953
Career position - Fire control officer of the Snowy Mountains area
1953 - 1970
Career position - Fire Researcher, Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau, Canberra
1970 - 1975
Career position - Director, Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau's Forest Research Institute
1975 - 1978
Career position - Principal Research officer, Division of Forest Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
1977
Publication - Book: "Bushfires in Australia", with Harry Luke

Colleague

Published resources

Books

  • Luke, R. H. ; McArthur, A. G., Bushfires in Australia (Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1977), 359 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • 'Obituary: McArthur, Alan Grant', Australian Forestry, 41 (1978). Details

Resources

See also

Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 16 July 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P001407b.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
Reference: https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/indigenous-weather-knowledge/indigenous-seasonal-calendars/gariwerd-calendar#bom-anchor-list__item-kooyang-season-of-eels

Publisher: Swinburne University of Technology.

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