Abstract: AbstractThis paper provides a case study of the impact of Federation on Victoria’s engineering development between 1901 and the First World War. By 1900, engineering accounted for 25% of the Victorian manufacturing workforce following fifty years of strong growth stimulated by vigorous domestic demand, preferential government tendering and a protective import tariff. After 1901, influences on Victorian engineering development included the introduction of Commonwealth import tariff & patent legislation, the rise of “new protectionism” and the freeing up of interstate trade. The momentum gained during the colonial period helped Victoria develop the largest interstate and export machinery trade of any Australian state by 1915 and would shape much of Victoria’s industrial development during the 20th century.Key Words: Engineering manufacturingFederationimport tariffspatent legislationprotectionismmachinery exportVictoriaEconomic development Additional informationNotes on contributorsMatthew ChurchwardSenior Curator, Technology & Innovation, Australian Society & Technology Program, Museum VictoriaMatthew Churchward originally studied Mechanical Engineering before undertaking a Masters in History of Technology, for which he researched 19th century mining machinery manufacturing in Victoria.In 1989–1990 he undertook the Victorian Steam Heritage Survey for Museum Victoria, during which he scoured the state to identify and record every known surviving steam engine - all 2,000 of them! Outcomes from this project included the two publications Victorian Steampower - An Illustrated Social History (1994) and The Victorian Steam Heritage Register (1994).Matthew has been a curator with Museum Victoria since 1994. His current research interests include the Spotswood Pumping Station, 19th & 20th century immigrant shipping, the history of bridges, roads, railways & ports in Victoria and the history of Australian manufacturing and innovation.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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