P001564 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098]; Ken McInnes updated 2026-05-07 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001564b.htm person East Lewis Ronald Kt CBE HonFIEAust AACR2 17 June 1899 9 March 1994 Place of Birth Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia Engineer Water supply expert Sir Ronald East CBE MCE MInstCE HonFIEAust, was Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria from 1936 until he retired in 1965. He joined the Commission as a civil engineer in 1922, and was appointed a Commissioner in 1935. He was associated with the Snowy Mountains Project from its inception, as a Member of the Interim Advisory Council 1953 - 1958, and as a Member of the Snowy Mountains Council 1959 - 1965. He also represented Victoria on the River Murray Commission from 1936 until 1965. His distinguished contributions to water supply engineering were recognised when he was awarded the Kernot Memorial Medal in 1949; was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1951; was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1957, and was Knighted in 1966.

East had a keen interest in recording and conserving the history and heritage of water supply in Victoria, and many significant engineering heritage items remain today because of his guidance as a Commissioner. In this way, he appears to have followed in the footsteps of Alfred Kenyon, the commissioner that he replaced, when Kenyon retired in 1935.

1918 1919 Military service - First World War. Second Aircraft Mechanic, Australian Flying Corps 1919 1919 Career event - Foundation Student Member (StudIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1922 1922 Education - Bachelor of Civil Engineering (BCE), University of Melbourne [Completion delayed by military service] 1922 1965 Career position - Civil engineer, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 1924 1924 Education - Master of Civil Engineering (MCE), University of Melbourne 1925 1925 Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1927 1927 Career event - Associate Member (AssocMAmSocCE), American Society of Civil Engineers c. 1932 c. 1932 Career event - Associate Member (AssocMInstCE), Institution of Civil Engineers, London 1935 1935 Career event - Member (MAmSocCE), American Society of Civil Engineers 1935 c. 1965 Career position - Member, Sludge Abatement Board, Department of Mines [as Commissioner SRWSC] 1935 1965 Career position - Commissioner, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria [appointed following retirement of A S Kenyon] 1936 1936 Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1936 1965 Career position - Chairman, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 1936 1965 Career position - Commissioner representing Victoria, River Murray Commission, Victoria 1937 Career position - Foundation member, Australian National Committee on Large Dams c. 1937 c. 1937 Career event - Member (MInstCE), Institution of Civil Engineers, London 1937 1937 Award - King George VI Coronation Medal 1938 1962 Career position - National Councillor, Institution of Engineers Australia 1947 1949 Career position - Member, committee of technical experts that devised the Snowy Mountains Scheme 1949 1949 Award - Kernot Memorial Medal, for distinguished engineering achievement in Australia. Faculty of Engineering, University of Melbourne 3 Jun 1951 3 Jun 1951 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Chairman - Victoria Water Supply Commission. 1952 1953 Career position - President, Institution of Engineers Australia 1953 1958 Career position - Member, Interim Advisory Committee, Snowy Mountains Project 1957 1957 Award - Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal - Career Achievement Award in Engineering. Institution of Engineers Australia 1959 1965 Career position - Member, Snowy Mountains Council 1960 1960 Award - Sir James Barrett Award 1965 1965 Life event - Retired 1 Jan 1966 1 Jan 1966 Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt) - Chairman - Victoria Water Supply Commission. 13 Sep 1968 13 Sep 1968 Career event - Fellow (FIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Members were designated Fellows on this date.] 1969 1969 Award - Honorary Fellow (HonFIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1981 1981 Award - Doctor of Engineering (DE), honoris causa, University of Melbourne 2010 2010 Award (posthumous) - Hall of Fame, National Committee on Water Engineering, Engineers Australia - recognising individuals who have shaped the theory and practice of water engineering Thompson, George Thomas (1895 - 1987)

Ronald East MIEAust endorsed George Thompson's application for AMIEAust 1945

 Welch, Lawrence Napier (1891 - 1965)

Ronald East MIEAust endorsed Lawrence Welch's nomination for MIEAust 1955

 Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated (ANCOLD) (1937 - )

Foundation member 1937 -

 Kernot Memorial Medal, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Melbourne (1926 - )

Awarded the Medal 1949

 Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, Institution of Engineers, Australia (1922 - )

Awarded the Medal 1957.

 Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

Elected Honorary Fellow 1968; President 1952; Councillor 1938 - 1962.

 State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC), State of Victoria (1905 - 1984)

Chairman 1936 - 1965; Commissioner 1935 - 1965; Water supply engineer 1922 - 1965.

 Kenyon, Alfred Stephen (1867 - 1943)

Ronald East was appointed a Commissioner, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria, when Commissioner Alfred Kenyon retired in 1935.

 Snowy Mountains Council (1959 - )

Representative of Victoria on the Council 1959 - 1965

 River Murray Commission, Commonwealth of Australia (1917 - 1988)

Representative of Victoria on the Commission 1936 - 1965

 Victoria Division, Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

Chairman, Melbourne Division 1944

 Heitlinger, Max (1899 - 1992)

Max Heitlinger worked under Sir Ronald East, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1943-1964. Sir Ronald East launched Max's autobiography in 1985.

 East, L R (18990617-19940309)

Trove

 'East, Lewis Ronald', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology East, Lewis Ronald Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers Institution of Civil Engineers Journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers Institution of Civil Engineers Journal Article: Kernot Memorial Medal - 1948 & 1949 Awards [Walter Eric Bassett, and Lewis Ronald East] Kernot Memorial Medal - 1948 & 1949 Awards [Walter Eric Bassett, and Lewis Ronald East] 1949 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 21 6 107 Journal Article: Roderick becomes Hon FIEAust Roderick becomes Hon FIEAust 1979 Engineers Australia 51 15 4 Journal Article: Past presidents - where are they now? Past presidents - where are they now? 1978 Engineers Australia 50 7 20-22 Resource: Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne 2023 Edited Book: Anything is possible: 100 Australian engineering leaders Engineers Australia Anything is possible: 100 Australian engineering leaders Barton, A.C.T. Institution of Engineers, Australia 2019 Journal Article: Notes on some failures and unforeseen factors in the design of works (Discussions and communications) Dare, Henry Harvey (Woore, J. M. S.; East, Lewis R.; Fleming, H.; Osborn, A. F.; Wilson, W. Claude; McKay, R. T.; Dennis, S.) Notes on some failures and unforeseen factors in the design of works (Discussions and communications) 1931 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 12 427-430 Journal Article: High earthen dams, with particular relationship to Silvan Dam for Melbourne Water Supply (Discussion) Ritchie, Edgar Gower; Robertson, W. A.; East, L. R.; Sanders, C. L.; Kelso, A. E. High earthen dams, with particular relationship to Silvan Dam for Melbourne Water Supply (Discussion) 1931 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 4 133-135 Journal Article: Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal awarded to Mr L. R. East Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal awarded to Mr L. R. East 1957 Aqua: Official Journal of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 9 3 68 Report: Thirty-eighth Annual Report [1957] Institution of Engineers Australia Thirty-eighth Annual Report [1957] 1958 Journal Article: Concrete control as used at the Mount Bold Dam, South Australia (Discussions and communications) Johnson, Christopher George Frederick; Campbell, Archibald Hector (Eaton, J. H. O.; East, L. R.; Robertson, W. A.; Chapman. R. W.; Blakey, O. F.; Kneeshaw, F. P.; Shaw, E. D.) Concrete control as used at the Mount Bold Dam, South Australia (Discussions and communications) 1937 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 9 9 353-355 Journal Article: Presidential Visit Overseas (1952) [L R East. W H H Gibson deputising] Presidential Visit Overseas (1952) [L R East. W H H Gibson deputising] 1952 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 24 12 231 Journal Article: Swamp reclamation in Victoria (Discussions and communications) East, L. R. (Crawley, R. L.; Burston, A. W.) Swamp reclamation in Victoria (Discussions and communications) 1936 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 8 9 333-334 Journal Article: Swamp reclamation in Victoria East, L. R. Swamp reclamation in Victoria 1935 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 7 3 77-91 Journal Article: Presidential address [1953] - Engineered progress East, L. R. Presidential address [1953] - Engineered progress 1953 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 25 3 29-33 Journal Article: The Loch Gary flood protection scheme East, L. R. The Loch Gary flood protection scheme 1927 Quarterly Bulletin, Institution of Engineers, Australia 4 312- Resource: Selected Engineering Papers Institution of Civil Engineers Selected Engineering Papers Institution of Civil Engineers Journal Article: The development and use of water resources in Victoria (Symposium) East, L. R.; Green, K. D.; Horsfall, R. A. The development and use of water resources in Victoria (Symposium) 1958 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 30 1-2 35-64 Journal Article: The faith of an engineer: a discussion of the land problem East, L. R. The faith of an engineer: a discussion of the land problem 1945 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 17 9 183-90 Book Section: Checchi, Ettore (1853-1946), engineer East, Ronald Checchi, Ettore (1853-1946), engineer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1979 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 7: 1891 - 1939 A-Ch Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 628 Resource: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Civil Engineers Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Civil Engineers Journal Article: Tribute to A. S. Kenyon East, L. R. Tribute to A. S. Kenyon 1957 Aqua: Official Journal of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 44 Journal Article: Irrigation and water supply in Victoria East, L. R. Irrigation and water supply in Victoria 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 10 389-393 Journal Article: Introduction [One hundred years of engineering in Victoria] East, L. R. Introduction [One hundred years of engineering in Victoria] 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 10 355 Journal Article: One hundred years of engineering in Victoria. [Series of papers] East, L. R. (editor) One hundred years of engineering in Victoria. [Series of papers] 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 10 353-420 Journal Article: Profiles from the past: Alfred S. Kenyon East, L. R. Profiles from the past: Alfred S. Kenyon 1963 The Chartered Engineer Victoria 8 3 6 Resource: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Civil Engineers Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Civil Engineers Journal Article: Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal: 1957 Award [L. R. East, CBE MCE MIEAust] Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal: 1957 Award [L. R. East, CBE MCE MIEAust] Institution of Engineers, Australia 1957 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 29 12 344 Journal Article: A long career in water: obituary [Sir Ronald East (1899 - 1994)] A long career in water: obituary [Sir Ronald East (1899 - 1994)] 1994 Engineers Australia 66 4 11 Journal Article: Honorary Fellow of The Institution - Sir Ronald East CBE MCE HonFIEAust Honorary Fellow of The Institution - Sir Ronald East CBE MCE HonFIEAust 1969 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 41 9 N65 Resource: B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 CA 2001 Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Journal Article: Farewell to Mr East. Farewell to Mr East. 1965 Aqua: Official Journal of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 16 7 159-65 Journal Article: The president of The Institution for 1952 [ Mr. L. R. East CBE MCE MIEAust] The president of The Institution for 1952 [ Mr. L. R. East CBE MCE MIEAust] 1952 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 24 4-5 95 Journal Article: Chairman retires after record 30-year term as Commissioner Chairman retires after record 30-year term as Commissioner 1965 Aqua: Official Journal of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Victoria 16 5 100-105 Conference Paper: 20th Century Victorian Engineers - Case studies of engineers as leaders in Victoria from 1890 to 1990 Lay, M. G. 20th Century Victorian Engineers - Case studies of engineers as leaders in Victoria from 1890 to 1990 Barton, ACT Institution of Engineers Australia 1994 Fourth International Conference on Engineering Management, 1994: Preprints 7-12 Lewis Ronald East - Records State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection Lewis Ronald East - Records MS 8178, MS 10611 1967 - 1979 Typescript including maps and tables of 'Water in the Mallee' (Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 1967) [MS 8178]. Various items including speech notes, menu and programme for the diamond jubilee dinner of the Institution of Engineers, Australia June 1979 [MS 10611].