P002596 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1997-06-30 human Rosanne Walker; Ken McInnes updated 2026-02-02 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002596b.htm person Smith James Alexander AACR2 1862 25 April 1940 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Engineer James Alexander Smith was a Melbourne consulting engineer who held many public positions including President of the Working Men's College Council.

Smith appears to have been involved with the Microscopical Society of Victoria, of which he was president around 1923, the Victorian Institute of Engineers, Victorian Railways, the Royal Society of Victoria, and the Victorian Institute of Surveyors.

He was the engineer member of the committee of three, that selected the winning design for the layout of Canberra. He also played a major part in the consolidation of the Melbourne City Council Building Regulations, and he was a leading advocate for roofing over the Jolimont railway yards for civic purposes.

1888 1923 Career event - Member (MVIE), Victorian Institute of Engineers 1908 1911 Career position - President, Victorian Institute of Engineers 1919 1919 Career event - Foundation Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia Working Men's College (1882 - 1933)

President of Council, 1924-1925; Member of Council 1917-c1932

 Victorian Institute of Engineers (1883 - 1949)

President 1908 - 1911, Publications Committee 1916, Secretary 1922

 Smith, Alexander Kennedy (1824 - 1881)

Alexander Smith was the uncle of James Smith

 Brennan, Louis Philip (1852 - 1932)

In 1907, James was in the possession of a gyroscope "which had been constructed wholly or in part by Mr. Brennan when an apprentice in Melbourne to the late Mr. Alex. K. Smith".

 Smith, James Alexander (1862-19401231)

Trove

 'Smith, James Alexander', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Smith, James Alexander Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: The European-American frontier in the Pacific in relation to Panama and Australian transport problems (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander The European-American frontier in the Pacific in relation to Panama and Australian transport problems (Paper & Discussion) 1914 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XIV 167-175, 185-190 Journal Article: Notes on internal flow in centrifugal pumps (Part II): a study of the theory of the runner (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Notes on internal flow in centrifugal pumps (Part II): a study of the theory of the runner (Paper & Discussion) 1905 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. IV 147-162 Journal Article: Air in relation to boiler-feeds (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Air in relation to boiler-feeds (Paper & Discussion) 1905 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. V 57-65, 89-89, 139-146 Journal Article: Air in relation to the surface-condensation of low-pressure steam: an experimental study of condenser problems (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Air in relation to the surface-condensation of low-pressure steam: an experimental study of condenser problems (Paper & Discussion) 1906 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. VI 176-201 Journal Article: Surface condensation (Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Surface condensation (Discussion) 1907 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. VII 11-18, 29-40 Journal Article: The relation of the calorific and commercial values of fuel (Lecture) Smith, James Alexander The relation of the calorific and commercial values of fuel (Lecture) 1910 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. X 90-95 Journal Article: A simple, sensitive, two-liquid differential gauge for measuring small pressures (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander A simple, sensitive, two-liquid differential gauge for measuring small pressures (Paper & Discussion) 1910 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. X 155-161 Journal Article: The differential pressure gauge in engineering thermometry Smith, James Alexander The differential pressure gauge in engineering thermometry 1910 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. X 196-201 Journal Article: National issues in Australian railway engineering (Presidential address) Smith, James Alexander National issues in Australian railway engineering (Presidential address) 1911 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XI 10-30 Journal Article: Notes on some experimental illustrations of streamline flow and apparatus (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Notes on some experimental illustrations of streamline flow and apparatus (Paper & Discussion) 1905 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. IV 60-66 Journal Article: A plea for breadth in Australian engineering thought and plan (Presidential address) Smith, James Alexander A plea for breadth in Australian engineering thought and plan (Presidential address) 1912 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XII 14-25 Journal Article: Notes on some experimental researches on internal flow in centrifugal pumps and allied machines (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander Notes on some experimental researches on internal flow in centrifugal pumps and allied machines (Paper & Discussion) 1905 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. IV 5-18 Journal Article: The engineer in Australia: the pioneer of a continent (Presidential Address) Smith, James Alexander The engineer in Australia: the pioneer of a continent (Presidential Address) 1910 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. X 10-23 Journal Article: The problem of the Gauge of Australian railways (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander The problem of the Gauge of Australian railways (Paper & Discussion) 1912 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XII 123-139, 144-152, 175-192, 225-232 Journal Article: A method of determining the density of flue gases (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander A method of determining the density of flue gases (Paper & Discussion) 1917 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XVI 91-98, 137-143 Journal Article: Engineering in relation to astronomy Smith, James Alexander Engineering in relation to astronomy 1911 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XI 182-184 Journal Article: Building Regulations. Precis of some of the simpler matters considered by the Victorian Institute of Engineers, in reviewing the proposed factor of safety for timber Smith, James Alexander Building Regulations. Precis of some of the simpler matters considered by the Victorian Institute of Engineers, in reviewing the proposed factor of safety for timber 1911 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XI 95-96 Journal Article: Letter to the Editor Smith, James Alexander Letter to the Editor 1918 Commonwealth Engineer 6 5 159 Journal Article: The freight collecting area of Port Philip (Paper & Discussion) Smith, James Alexander The freight collecting area of Port Philip (Paper & Discussion) 1911 Proceedings of the Victorian Institute of Engineers vol. XI 142-146, 150-152 Journal Article: Obituary - James Alexander Smith Anon Obituary - James Alexander Smith 1940 The Australian Surveyor 8 4 230 Book: The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Currie, George; Graham, John The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Melbourne CSIRO 1966 James Alexander Smith - Papers State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection James Alexander Smith - Papers MS 11370 1878 - 1933 Papers, 1878-1933. Includes general correspondence; correspondence and technical papers concerning Working Men's College; lectures; correspondence relating to Victorian Institute of Engineers, Victorian Railways, Royal Society of Victoria, Microscopical Society of Victoria, and various other societies; miscellaneous items; and press cuttings. 1.1 m