Topp, Arthur Albert (1886 - 1952)

Summary

Arthur Topp was Manager of the Explosives Factory at Maribyrnong from 1928-1940, Assistant Director of Explosives Supply, Ministry of Munitions 1940-1944 and General Manager, Commonwealth Government Explosives Factories. Topp was a pioneer of munitions manufacture and supply.

Details

Prior to undertaking a Diploma in Metallurgy (Melbourne Technical College), Arthur Albert Topp worked at Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company's superphosphate and chemical plants in Yarraville (1906-07). From 1908 to 1910 Topp worked for the Victorian Mines Department Laboratory. The following year he joined the Ministry of Munitions working at the Commonwealth Government Cordite Factory in Maribyrnong. In 1916 the Australian Arsenal was established in Canberra to rationalise the production of Government munitions and Arthur Topp was appointed its General Manager. He was also responsible for overseeing many of the Arsenal's technical studies and much of this work was carried out in England as part of Topp's World War I service.

In 1928 Arthur Top was appointed Manager of the Explosives Supply section of the Cordite Factory. After 12 years in the role he was promoted to Assistant Director, then General Manager / Director of the Commonwealth Government Explosives Factories. During World War II, Topp helped design and oversee construction of numerous new explosive factories throughout Australia. In the later years of his working life, Arthur Topp's focus was returned to metallurgy when he was appointed Consultant to the Australian Aluminium Production Commission. The Royal Institute of Chemistry recognized his achievements by electing him Fellow in 1944.

Chronology

1906 - 1907

Career position - Assistant at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company in Yarraville

1908

Education - Diploma in Metallurgy, Melbourne Technical College

1908 - 1910

Career position - Metallurgist for the Victorian Mines Department Laboratory

1911 - 1914

Career position - Chemist at the Commonwealth Government Cordite Factory

1915

Career position - Assistant Manager at the Commonwealth Government Cordite Factory

c. 1917 - 1918

Military service - War service in England

1918

Career position - Associate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry

1926 - 1927

Career position - Works Manager at Explosives Factory in Maribyrnong

1928 - 1940

Career position - Manager of the Explosives Factory in Maribyrnong

1940 - 1944

Career position - Assistant Director of Explosives Supply at the Ministry of Munitions

1944

Career position - Fellow, Royal Institute of Chemistry (FRIC)

1944 - c. 1950

Career position - General Manager of the Commonwealth Government Explosives Factories

Published resources

Resources

• 'Topp, Arthur Albert (1886-1952)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1475684. Details