Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1946. For the prior six years Mechanical Engineering had been taught through the School of Mines.

In 1943, South Australian Industry, including General Motors Holden and the Adelaide Electric Supply Company, donated money towards the establishment of two new Chairs in Engineering.

Recruitment for the new Chair of Mechanical Engineering commenced after the end of the Second World War hostilities in 1945. Professor Henry Hargan Davis was appointed by Council in 1946 and held the position until he retired at the end of 1973.

On 1 July 2002 the Department was renamed the School of Mechanical Engineering.

Taken from UAA Provenance Record UAR-0456

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

• Professor Henry Hargan Davis, BSc, BE (Syd), PhD (Camb), 1946-1973 (Emeritus Professor 1974)
• Professor Ian Douglas Henderson, BTech, 1996-1999
• Professor Russell Estcourt Luxton, BE (Hons) (Adel), PhD (Lond), 1974-1999 (Emeritus Professor 1999)
• Professor Colin Henry Hansen, BE (Hons)(Adel), PhD (Adel), 1998-2011 (Emeritus Professor 2012)