Biographical entry Williams, George Kenneth (1896 - 1974)

Summary

George Kenneth Williams developed the continuous refining practice for which Port Pirie became famous. He began work in 1921 on the desilverising process and then progressively changed all the other batch refining operations to single team continuous processes by 1935. He then undertook plant scale research that led to the development of a single blast furnace to handle the entire throughput.

Details

Born Tarnagulla, Victoria, 21 February 1896. Died 1974. Educated University of Melbourne (BME 1920, MME 1925). DEng. Research from 1920 on development of new continuous process of refining lead, resulting in complete remodelling of plant at Port Pirie Lead Refinery; responsible for reorganisation of roast sintering plant and development of lead blast furnaces; Works Manager, Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty Ltd 1942-48; Metallurgical Consultant, Imperial Smelting Corporation, England, from 1948. Kernot Medal for distinguished engineering achievements in Australia; Bronze Medal, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 1942; Gold Medal, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London 1951.

Published resources

Book Sections

• Branagan, D. F., 'Williams, George Kenneth (1896-1974), Metallurgist', in John Ritchie and Diane Langmore (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 16, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2002, pp. 551-552. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160655b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Williams, G K', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-575749. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/scripts/tia-dynindex.php3?EID=P004068. Details