Henry Deane (engineer)

Henry Deane (1847-1924) was an Australian civil engineer known for his significant contributions to the development of railways and water supply infrastructure in New South Wales and Western Australia.

Deane was born in Clapham, London, and received his engineering training at King's College London. He emigrated to Australia in 1879 and joined the New South Wales Department of Public Works.

His early work in New South Wales included the design and supervision of railway construction, notably the extension of the Great Southern Railway. He later became Engineer-in-Chief for Railway Construction. A key achievement during this period was his oversight of the construction of the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge, a major engineering feat for its time.

In 1895, Deane was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of the Western Australian Government Railways. He played a crucial role in expanding the railway network in the state, facilitating the development of the goldfields and other industries. He oversaw the construction of significant sections of the Eastern Goldfields Railway.

Deane returned to New South Wales in 1903 and served as Engineer-in-Chief of the Sydney Harbour Trust. He was involved in the planning and development of the port facilities in Sydney.

Deane was a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a prominent figure in the Australian engineering community. His work had a lasting impact on the transportation infrastructure of both New South Wales and Western Australia, contributing significantly to their economic development.