Charles Stuart, MIMechE AMIEAust, migrated to Western Australia in 1897. His brother H. Akroyd Stuart joined him in 1900 and together with Frank Saunders formed the firm Saunders & Stuart Ltd, engineers and manufacturers' agents, mining and agricultural machinery and supplies.
To the annoyance of his then more eminent engineer brother, he termed himself Charles Henry Akroyd-Stuart, creating a lasting misconception about their surname.
The firm of Saunders & Stuart prospered acting as a local agent for many English companies, and as the major company for steel fabrication and construction, becoming the major agent for steel products being imported into Western Australia. Charles became the Managing Director.
Charles and Akroyd continued experiments to process sulphide and oxidised ores, to utilise local Collie coal, and to make improvements to gas engines.
Charles successful pioneered the design and manufacture of a gas producer unit operating on the downdraft system, using local coal, or wood as fuel, and successfully utilised it connected to Crossley gas engines from 1906. The Akroyd Power Gas Co. Ltd. in Perth was established to manufacture the units and these were sold across the State, across Australia and overseas.
By 1916, the company developed and sold irrigation systems, supported by their publication "The Akroyd System of Sprinkler Irrigation Handbook."
Charles retired as managing director of Saunders & Stuart in 1923 and returned to England.
Associated works:
* Electric lighting system for Yallingup Caves;
* Design and erection of Coolgardie Condensing Plant, for WA Railways;
* Design and erection heating (steam) and electric generating plant, WA Asylum for the Insane;
* Equipment for several gold and tin mines in WA, crushing plants for sulphides and oxidised ores;
* experimental work on utilisation of local coal in WA for gas work;
* design and completion of gas plant using local coal.
1897
1897
Life event - Moved to Western Australia [to work for J Barre Johnston and Co.]
1897
1902
Career position - Assistant manager, J Barre Johnston and Co., Mining engineers, Fremantle, WA
1902
1902
Career position - Manager, J Barre Johnston and Co., Mining engineers, Fremantle, WA
1902
1923
Career position - Partner / Managing Director, Saunders and Stuart, Engineers, Fremantle, WA
1908
1923
Career position - Local agent in WA for: Cammell Laird and Co. Sheffield; Frank Pearn and Co. Manchester, Crossley Bros. Manchester, Frodingham Iron and Steel Co. [Handling 90% of steel constructional work in WA]
1909
1909
Career event - Member (MIMechE), Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London
1913
1913
Career event - Member, Western Australian Institution of Engineers
1919
1919
Career event - Foundation Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia
1923
1923
Life event - Returned to live in England