P007640 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2025-03-12 human Ken McInnes updated 2026-01-07 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007640b.htm person Balsille George Davy CBE AACR2 23 April 1884 2 February 1976 Place of Birth Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand Place of Death Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Civil engineer George Balsille MIEAust CBE was the Director of the Public Works Department, Tasmania from 1929 to 1954. In 1929, just after he took on the role, massive floods washed away or significantly damaged over150 bridges in Northern Tasmania. This led to development and adoption of innovative steel and concrete structural techniques including composite bridge decking, welded steel bridges, and the construction of the unique floating bridge across the Dewent River at Hobart. He also took a leading role in the engineering profession, through his involvement as a Chairman and Vice-chairman, Tasmania Division of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and in 1937, in the formation of the Australian Committee on Large Dams. His distinguished contribution to engineering was recognised when he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1939. c. 1903 c. 1903 Education - Mechanical and Civil engineering, Canterbury University College, Christchurch, New Zealand c. 1903 c. 1906 Career position - Engineer, Railway workshops, Hillside, Dunedin, New Zealand Government Railways c. 1906 c. 1909 Career position - Assistant waterworks engineer, Christchurch City Council, New Zealand 1909 1911 Career position - Contractors engineer, hydraulics, Akaroa hydro-electric scheme, New Zealand c. 1911 c. 1913 Career position - Assistant locating engineer, Survey and Construction Branch, Federated Malay States railways 1913 c. 1914 Career position - Engineer, Pratas Island, China, for the Phosphates Exploitation Syndicate Ktd., Singapore c. 1914 c. 1915 Career position - Consulting engineer, Singapore 1915 1915 Career event - Granted Certificate of Competency as Municipal Surveyor (CE), Local Government Act 1903 VIC 1915 1916 Career position - Engineering Instructor, Warrnambool Technical School, Victoria c. 1915 c. 1917 Career position - Contractors engineer, Melbourne Suburban Railway Electrification, for the British Insulated and Helsby Cables Ltd 1916 Career position - Shire engineer, Johnstone Shire, Queensland c. 1916 c. 1917 Career position - Surveyor, British Insulated and Helsby Cables Ltd 1917 1918 Military service - First World War. T/Corporal, Field Company Engineers, Australian Imperial Force c. 1919 c. 1919 Career position - Draughtsman, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, New South Wales c. 1919 c. 1919 Career event - Granted Certificate as Engineer of Water Supply, under Irrigation Act 1886 VIC 1919 1919 Career position - Special course in design and draughtsmanship, City and Guild College, London [under Professor Dixon, of the Civil Engineering Department] c. 1920 c. 1921 Career position - Municipal engineer, Devonport, Tasmania 1921 1921 Career event - Granted Certificate of Qualification as Engineer (CE), Local Government Act 1919 NSW. [Certificate No.414] 1922 1922 Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1923 1924 Career position - Assistant City engineer, Launceston City Council, Tasmania 1924 1929 Career position - City engineer, Launceston City Council, Tasmania 1929 1954 Career position - Director, Tasmanian Public Works Department 1932 1932 Career position - Chairman, Tasmania Division, Institution of Engineers Australia 1935 1935 Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1937 1937 Career position - Foundation member, Australian National Committee on Large Dams 1939 1939 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Director of Public Works in Tasmania 1948 1952 Career position - Chairman, Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board, Tasmania 1949 c. 1953 Career position - State Co-ordinator of Works, Tasmania 1953 Career position - Director, Industrial Sales and Service (Tas.) Ltd, Launceston, Tasmania Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated (ANCOLD) (1937 - )

Foundation member 1937 -

 Tasmanian Public Works Department, State of Tasmania (1835 - 1977)

Director 1929 - 1954

 'Balsille, George Davy', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Balsille, George Davy Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Design and construction of an arc welded bridge at Kimberley, Tasmania. Sharp, Robert Charles Design and construction of an arc welded bridge at Kimberley, Tasmania. 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 1 3-10 Edited Book: Two hundred years of concrete in Australia Lewis, Miles Two hundred years of concrete in Australia North Sydney Concrete Institute of Australia 1988 Conference Paper: Two years' experience with a rapid sand filter plant Balsille, G. D. Two years' experience with a rapid sand filter plant 1928 Proceedings of the First Commonwealth Conference on Public Health Engineering, Melbourne, 19th - 27th September, 1927 137-144 Conference Paper: Rational charges for water supply Balsille, G. D. Rational charges for water supply 1928 Proceedings of the First Commonwealth Conference on Public Health Engineering, Melbourne, 19th - 27th September, 1927 14-17 Journal Article: Water treatment plant, Launceston Balsille, G. D. Water treatment plant, Launceston Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1927 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 7 95-115 Journal Article: Notes on Tasmanian highway bridges Balsille, George Davy Notes on Tasmanian highway bridges 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 1 1-2 Journal Article: Large land slip near Ulverstone, Tasmania, arrested by deep drainage Balsille, George Davy Large land slip near Ulverstone, Tasmania, arrested by deep drainage 1936 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 8 10 365-371 Journal Article: A graphical method for sewage pumping problems [Part 3] Balsille, G. D. A graphical method for sewage pumping problems [Part 3] 1926 Commonwealth Engineer 14 2 59-62 Journal Article: Concrete bridge slab decks Balsille, G. D. Concrete bridge slab decks 1933 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 5 2 60-65 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