Axon, Albert Edwin (1898 - 1974)

Summary

Sir Albert Axon, KBE ME DEng DSc, electrical engineer, was a prominent, respected figure in the electricity industry in Queensland. In 1929 he established himself as a consultant to the Queensland Government, and in 1936 became one of 4 people on the Commission that led to the establishment of the State Electricity Commission in 1938. In 1948 he founded A. E. Axon & Associates which conducted various electrical installations.

From 1957-1966 Axon was Chancellor of the University of Queensland, during which time the university expanded considerably. During the late 1950s and 1960s he also held many prominent positions in business including: Chairman of Queensland Cement & Lime Co. Ltd; Delegate to the Cement and Concrete Association of Australia; Chairman of the South Brisbane Gas & Light Co. Ltd (later Allgas Ltd); and Director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation (1959-1964).

His eminent achievements were recognized by being appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE); awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal 1960; Doctor of Engineering from the University of Melbourne 1960; Doctor of Science from the University of New England 1962; Honorary Member, Institution of Engineers Australia in 1966, and a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Queensland 1972.

Details

Chronology

1918 - 1919

Military service - First World War. Private, Australian Imperial Force

1919 - 1923

Education - Bachelor of Engineering (BE), University of Queensland [Completion delayed by Military Service]

1920

Career position - Intern, City Electric Light Co. Ltd, Brisbane

1921

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

1923 - 1928

Education - Master of Engineering (ME), University of Queensland

1926

Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

1926 - c. 1929

Career position - Engineer, Electrical and Mechanical Department, A. E. Harding Frew Engineers.

1929

Career event - Established private practice as consulting electrical and mechanical engineer

1935 - 1966

Career position - Member of Senate of the Men Graduates' Association, University of Queensland

1936

Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

1936

Career position - Member, Royal Commission on Electrical Development in Queensland

1938 - 1947

Career position - Member, State Electricity Commission of Queensland

1942 - 1944

Military service - Second World War. Major and later Colonel, Australian Army

1948

Career event - Established A. E. Axon & Associates

1956

Career position - Chairman, Men Graduates' Association, University of Queensland

1957 - 1966

Career position - Chancellor, University of Queensland

1959

Award - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - For services as the Chancellor of the University of Queensland.

1959 - 1964

Career position - Director, Commonwealth Banking Corporation

1960

Award - Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal - Career Achievement Award in Engineering, Institution of Engineers Australia

1961

Award - Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa, University of Melbourne

1962

Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of New England

1966

Award - Honorary Member (HonMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

1968

Award - Honorary Fellow (HonFIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Hon.Members were designated Hon.Fellows on this date.]

1972

Award - Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa, University of Queensland

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• George, W. I., 'Axon, Sir Albert Edwin (1898-1974), engineer, businessman and university chancellor' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1993), pp. 85-86. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130103b.htm. Details

Edited Books

• Whitmore, R. L. ed., Eminent Queensland Engineers [volume 1] (Brisbane, Queensland: The Institution of Engineers, Australia, Queensland Division, 1984), 75 pp. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2017-01/eqe_vol_i.compressed.pdf. pp.6-7 'Colonel Sir Albert Axon KBE HonDEng(Melb) HonDEng(Qld) HonDSc(N.E.) ME(Qld) HonFIEAust FIEEE'. Details

Journal Articles

• 'Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal: 1960 Award [Sir Albert Axon, KBE ME MIEAust]', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 33 (1961), N3. Details
• 'Honorary Members of the Institution : Sir Albert Axon, KBE ME DEng DSc HonMIEAust; Sir Louis Loder, CBE MCE DEng MICE HonMIEAust.', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 38 (1966), N117. 'Sir Albert Axon has rendered conspicuous service in the development and expansion of electricity in the State of Queensland and in the field of engineering education'. Details

Reports

• Institution of Engineers Australia, Forty-first Annual Report [1960] (1961), 14 pp. 'Prizes - Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal (1960 Award), to Sir Albert Axon, KBE ME MIEAust', p.2. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21537862. Details
• CA 2001 Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office, 'NAA: B2455, Axon A E', B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=3042137. Details
• CA 2002, 2 Echelon, Army Headquarters; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office, 'NAA: B883, QX36203', B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4917099. Details
• 'Axon, Albert Edwin (18981221-19740217)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1479166. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DEng, 1961', Honorary degree holders, University of Melbourne, 2023, https://about.unimelb.edu.au/notable-alumni-staff/honorary-degree-holders. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DEng, 1972 [Citation provided]', Honorary awards recipients, University of Queensland, 2023, https://alumni.uq.edu.au/awards/honorary-awards-previous-recipients. Details