Basten, Henry Bolton (1903 - 1992)

Summary

Henry Basten was an administrator, and later university Vice-Chancellor, whose early career was in shipping and port facilities. For over 15 years he worked for the Calcutta Port Trust and the Singapore Harbour Board. On returning to the United Kingdom in 1942, on evacuation from Singapore, he worked for the Ministry of War Transport on the organisation of shipping. Post-war he played key roles in the reconstruction of the port of Singapore and the establishment of the University of Malaya. Basten migrated to South Australia in 1952. Commissioned by the Australian Government to review the operation of Australian ports, his recommendations resulted in major changes in the way the Australian shipping functioned. In 1955 Basten became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, after three years and Administrative Assistant to his predecessor in the role, Albert Rowe. As Vice-Chancellor Basten oversaw considerable expansion of the University, nearly doubling the number of students (including post-graduates) and staff. He also exercised a wider influence on tertiary education in South Australia, negotiating for the conferral of degrees on graduates of the South Australian School of Mines, and overseeing the development of a new campus at Bedford Park (Flinders University of South Australia from 1966). In retirement Basten was involved in the planning for the Australian National Gallery and the Australian Defence Force Academy. He served terms as Chairman of the Australian Universities Commission and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Details

Chronology

1925

Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Oxford

1946? - 1950

Career position - Chairman and General Manager, Singapore and Penang Harbour Board

1947

Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

1952

Life event - Migrated to South Australia

1953 - 1958

Career position - Administrative assistant to Archibald Rowe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide

1954

Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Oxford

1958 - 1967

Career position - Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide

1965 - 1971

Career position - Member, planning committee and Interim Council, Australian National Gallery

1966

Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt)

1967

Life event - Retired

1967

Award - DLitt honoris causa, Flinders University

1968 - 1971

Career position - Chairman, Australian Universities Commission

1972 - 1977

Career position - Foundation Chairman, Australian Institute of Marine Science

1975 - 1981

Career position - Chairman, Development Council, Australian Defence Force Academy

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• Hancock, Keith, 'Basten, Sir Henry Bolton (Henry) (1903 - 1992), university vice-chancellor' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 19: 1991 - 1995 A-Z, Melanie Nolan, ed. (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 2021), pp. 47-8. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/basten-sir-henry-bolton-henry-21145. Details

Journal Articles

• Badger, Geoffrey, 'Sir Henry Basten, 2 May 1903 - 8 April 1992', Lumen, 21 (7) (1992), 6-7. Details