Robert Rutherford Blackwood LLD MCE (1906 - 1982)

Born 3 Jun 1906 in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Hazel Lavinia (McLeod) Blackwood — married 1932 in Victoria, Australia

Died 21 Aug 1982 at age 76 in Brighton, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Robert Blackwood LLD MCE is Notable.

Doctor Sir Robert Blackwood LLD MCE BEE was an Australian businessman, professor of engineering and university chancellor. He was the first chancellor of Monash University and chairman of Dunlop Australia.

Robert Blackwood LLD MCE was born in Victoria, Australia

Robert Rutherford Blackwood was born in 3rd June 1906 in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. He was the elder son of Tasmanian-born parents Robert Leslie Blackwood, a school teacher and tutor in classics, and Muriel Pearl Henry. ^[1]

After completing his secondary education at Melbourne's Church of England Grammar School, Robert entered the University of Melbourne. He graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE) in 1929, Bachelor of Civil Engineering (BCE) 1930 and Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) 1932. ^[2]

Whilst studying, he was appointed by the university as testing officer and lecturer in agricultural engineering. ^[2]

Robert married Hazel McLeod in 1932 in the chapel of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. ^[3]

In 1934 he joined Dunlop Perdriau Rubber Co. Ltd as a research engineer, and became technical manager in 1937. He left the company in 1947 to become Foundation Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Melbourne University, but returned to (the then named) Dunlop Rubber Australia Ltd as general manager in 1948; a position he held until retiring in 1966. He continued as a member of the board of Dunlop Australia Ltd and, in 1972-79, was chairman. ^[4]

When Monash University was established by an Act of Parliament in 1958, Robert was appointed chairman of its Interim Council. When the university took on its first students in 1961, he was its first chancellor; remaining so until 1968. ^[2] His engineering influence can be seen in design features in the university's original master plan. ^[4]

In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1961, Robert was created Knight Bachelor 'in recognition of service to the Monash University'. ^[5]

In 1968, Robert published Monash University: the First Ten Years. The university named its great hall after him and at the opening of the building in 1971 conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD). In 1972, the University of Melbourne awarded him the (W C) Kernot Medal for distinguished engineering achievement. ^[4]

From 1964 to 1978 Robert was a trustee of the National Museum Victoria. He was president of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1973-74. ^[2][4]

Aged 76 years, he passed away on 21st August 1982 in Brighton, Victoria. ^[6] He was survived by Hazel, their son Andrew and daughter Janet, and four grandchildren. ^[4]

Just a year before Robert's death, his sister became Dame Margaret Blackwood, honoured for her work in medical scence with the University of Melbourne.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #22178/1906; registered at South Yarra
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Unimelb: Blackwood, Robert Rutherford (1906-82); accessed 13 Mar 2024
3. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #9251/1932
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Rae, Ian D. 'Blackwood, Sir Robert Rutherford (1906–1982)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 13 Mar 2024
5. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 13 Mar 2024
6. ↑ Victoria Death Index #20342/1982

See also

• Rae, Ian D. 'Blackwood, Sir Robert Rutherford (1906–1982)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 13 Mar 2024.
• Wikipedia: Robert Blackwood; accessed 13 Mar 2024.