Colin O'Connor, BE PhD DIC BD FIEAust MASCE, was a long-term lecturer in Civil engineering at the University of Queensland. He also undertook a detailed survey of Australian bridges which lead to three publications including the book Spanning Two Centuries: Historic Bridges of Australia (1985).
O'Connor was educated at the University of Queensland (BE (Hons)) becoming an Engineer with the Co-ordinator General's Department, Queensland Public Service, and Imperial College London (PhD), before joining the university as a lecturer.
The Citation for the award of the John Monash Medal 2003:
In 1979 he was commissioned by the Australian Heritage Commission and the Institution of Engineers Australia to undertake what is recognized as the definitive survey of Australia's historic bridges. This study not only resulted in the
required report but led Colin to make the work available to a wider audience in the "How to Look at Bridges" booklet and, later, the book "Spanning Two Centuries: Historic Bridges of Australia".
Colin has continued to contribute significantly to the conservation of heritage bridge structures, through his investigations into the maintenance and conservation of structures and his publications. His book "Roman Bridges" was published in 1993 by Cambridge University Press and he is currently working on a related work on "The History and Development of Stone Bridges".
1949
1949
Career event - Student Member (StudIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1949
1953
Career position - Engineer, Co-ordinator General's Department, Queensland
c. 1952
c. 1952
Education - Bachelor of Engineering (BE(Hon)), University of Queensland
1954
1954
Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1954
1955
Career position - Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of Queensland
1956
1970
Career position - Senior Lecturer (to 1964) then Reader in Civil Engineering, University of Queensland
1957
1957
Award - R W Chapman Medal, Institution of Engineers Australia
1961
1961
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College London
1965
1967
Career position - External Examiner, Royal Military College, Duntroon
1967
1968
Career position - Post-doctoral Research Associate, Lehigh University Pennsylvania
13 Sep 1968
13 Sep 1968
Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Associate Members were designated Members on this date.]
1970
Career position - Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Queensland
1971
1971
Career position - Wrote Design of Bridge Superstructures
1972
1974
Career position - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Queensland
1983
1983
Career position - Wrote Register of Australian Historic Bridges
1985
1985
Career position - Wrote Spanning Two Centuries: Historic Bridges of Australia
2003
2003
Award - John Monash medal for Engineering Heritage, Engineers Australia