Charles Yelverton O'Connor
C.Y. O'Connor, circa 1890s
Born	11 January 1843(1843-01-11) Gravelmount, Castletown, County Meath
Died	March 10, 1902 (aged 59) Robbs Jetty, Western Australia
Occupation	Engineer
Children	Eva

C. Y. O'Connor (11 January 1843 – 10 March 1902), full name Charles Yelverton O'Connor, was an Irish engineer who is best-known for his work in Australia, especially the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Image File history File links C_Y_O'Connor. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Navan Code: MH Area: 2,342 km² Population (2006) 162,831 Website: www. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Goldfields Pipeline along Great Eastern Highway The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, also known by names such as the Goldfields Pipeline, and originally known as the Coolgardie Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, is perhaps the worlds longest water main. ...

He was born in Gravelmount, Castletown, County Meath,^[1] and was educated at the Waterford Endowed School (also known as Bishop Foy's School). In 1859, he was apprenticed to J. Chaloner Smith as a railway engineer.^[2] In 1864,^[3] at the age of 21 he migrated to New Zealand, and was appointed assistant engineer for Canterbury Province on 6 September 1866.^[4] After holding other positions, O'Connor became inspecting engineer for the whole of the mid-South Island. In 1883 he was appointed Under-Secretary of Public Works in New Zealand and in 1890 he was appointed Marine Engineer for the whole colony. Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Navan Code: MH Area: 2,342 km² Population (2006) 162,831 Website: www. ... (For the current top-level subdivision of Canterbury in New Zealand, see Canterbury, New Zealand) The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. ... The Engine room of Argonaute, a French supply vessel. ... A self-governing colony is a colony with an elected legislature, in which politicians are able to make most decisions without reference to the colonial power with formal or nominal control of the colony. ...

O'Connor had much experience in harbour and dock construction by April 1891, when he resigned his position to become Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia. There he was responsible for the construction of Fremantle Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme project that supplied water to the Eastern Goldfields. He was the inaugural Engineer in Chief of the Public Works Department. Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... “Fremantle” redirects here. ... Goldfields Pipeline along Great Eastern Highway The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, also known by names such as the Goldfields Pipeline, and originally known as the Coolgardie Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, is perhaps the worlds longest water main. ... The Goldfields-Esperance region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. ... Logo of the PWD // The Public Works Department (P.W.D.) is a now defunct government instrumentality of Western Australia which was charged with providing and maintaining public infrastructure such as dams, water supplies, schools, hospitals, harbours and other public buildings. ...

Fremantle Harbour

Aerial view of Fremantle Harbour

The construction of Fremantle Harbour^[5] was probably O'Connor's greatest personal triumph, as his proposal to build the harbour within the entrance to the Swan River was contrary to previous expert advice that this was impracticable and that the construction would require constant dredging. Work commenced in 1892 in removing a limestone bar and sand shoals at the mouth of the Swan River and was successfully completed in 1903. On 4 May 1897 the first overseas passenger vessel, the Sultan berthed alongside the wharf, which had been named Victoria Quay in honour of Queen Victoria, who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee that year. In that same year O'Connor had travelled to London to receive the Order of St Michael and St George, in what was his 54th year.^[6] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 520 KB) Summary Fremantle and the Swan River viewed from the air, looking east towards Perth CBD. Photograph taken by Kristian Maley, 4 June 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 520 KB) Summary Fremantle and the Swan River viewed from the air, looking east towards Perth CBD. Photograph taken by Kristian Maley, 4 June 2005. ... Landsat 7 imagery of the Swan River and surrounds The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... Look up Shoal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 May 1876, until her death on 22 January 1901. ... A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ...

One hundred years of continued use of Fremantle Harbour by heavy shipping has vindicated O'Connor's technical judgement..

Goldfields Water Supply Scheme

Goldfields Pipeline along Great Eastern Highway

Lake O'Connor, Mundaring Weir, Western Australia

O'Connor is best known for his work on the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, also known as the Goldfields Pipeline. This pipeline — perhaps the world's longest water main — carries water 330 miles (530 km) from Perth to Kalgoorlie. A succession of gold rushes in the Yilgarn region near Southern Cross in 1887, at Coolgardie in 1892, and at Kalgoorlie in 1893 caused a population explosion in the barren and dry desert centre of Western Australia, exemplified by towns like Cunderdin and Merredin. On 16 July 1896, John Forrest introduced to Western Australian Parliament a bill to authorise the raising of a loan of £2.5 million to construct the scheme: the pipeline would cart five million gallons (23,000 m³) of water per day to the Goldfields from a dam on the Helena River near Mundaring Weir in Perth, pumped in eight successive stages through 330 miles (530 km) of 30 inch (760 mm) diameter pipe to the Mount Charlotte Reservoir in Kalgoorlie. The water is then reticulated to various mining centres in the Goldfields. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (864x648, 117 KB) Part of the Goldfields pipeline along route 94 - Western Australia. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (864x648, 117 KB) Part of the Goldfields pipeline along route 94 - Western Australia. ... Great Eastern Highway forms part of National Highway 94 Great Eastern Highway, Western Australia is a major road linking Perth with Kalgoorlie. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2160x1620, 999 KB) Lake OConnor, Mundaring Weir in the Darling Range, Perth, WA. Taken by me SeanMack. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2160x1620, 999 KB) Lake OConnor, Mundaring Weir in the Darling Range, Perth, WA. Taken by me SeanMack. ... Mundaring Weir is a suburb in Perth, Western Australia. ... Goldfields Pipeline along Great Eastern Highway The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, also known by names such as the Goldfields Pipeline, and originally known as the Coolgardie Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, is perhaps the worlds longest water main. ... A municipal water system is a large system of reservoirs and large-scale piping which supplies fresh water, suitable for human consumption, to houses and other residences. ... Location of Perth within Australia This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ... Kalgoorlie may refer to the following geographically related places: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, a city and council in Western Australia; Division of Kalgoorlie, a federal division of the Australian House of Representatives located around the geographical area; Electoral district of Kalgoorlie, an electoral district of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. ... For other meanings, see Gold rush (disambiguation) A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ... The Shire of Yilgarn covers a wide area of Western Australia centered around the town of Southern Cross. ... Southern Cross townsite. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Coolgardie Town Hall Coolgardie (30°57′ S 121°09′ E) is a small town in the Australian state of Western Australia, 558 km east of the state capital, Perth. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Kalgoorlie is a Western Australian city located about 600 km east of Perth. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about arid terrain. ... Old Railway Water Tower, Cunderdin. ... Merredin bush. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... John Forrest, 1898 John Forrest, 1st Baron Forrest of Bunbury GCMG PC (22 August 1847–2 September 1918) was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australias first federal parliament. ... The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Governor of Western Australia, the Western Australian Legislative Council and the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. ... A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not been ratified, adopted, or received assent. ... This article is about structures for water impoundment. ... The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River, Western Australia Location It rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed. ... Mundaring Weir is a suburb in Perth, Western Australia. ...

O'Connor was subjected to prolonged criticism by members of the press and also many members of the Western Australian Parliament over the Scheme.^[7] Forrest, always a supporter, had left Western Australian politics to become federal defence minister; defamatory attacks by the press had wounded him^[8]. O'Connor committed suicide less than a year before Forrest officially commissioned the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Governor of Western Australia, the Western Australian Legislative Council and the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. ...

Evans, describes how political machinations and individual greed led to many libellous newspaper articles about O'Connor towards the end of the pipeline project. One article in particular in The Sunday Times, 9 February 1902, is thought to have contributed to his death. Accusing O'Connor of corruption, it read, in part: is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The lake created by Mundaring Weir is now known as Lake O'Connor, and provides drinking water for the towns along the pipeline to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The West Australian (often simply called The West) is Perths only locally edited daily newspaper, and is owned by ASX-listed West Australian Newspapers Limited. ... Mundaring Weir is a dam across the Helena River, in Western Australia. ... Kalgoorlie is a Western Australian city located about 600 km east of Perth. ...

Pietro Porcelli's statue of O'Connor, Fremantle Port. The statue faces north-east towards Fremantle Harbour.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1362x2048, 580 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): C. Y. OConnor User:Nachoman-au/Image Gallery Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1362x2048, 580 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): C. Y. OConnor User:Nachoman-au/Image Gallery Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Pietro Giacomo Porcelli (1872-1943) was the Italian-born sculptor responsible for many statues in Western Australia, including those of C. Y. OConnor and Alexander Forrest. ...

Death and afterward

Statue of O'Connor and horse at C.Y. O'Connor beach

O'Connor took his own life on 10 March 1902 by shooting himself, while riding his horse into the water at a beach south of Fremantle.^[9] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2199 × 1647 pixel, file size: 523 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This statue is permantly positioned in water of the Indian Ocean approximately 10 metres off shore from C.Y.OConnor beach. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2199 × 1647 pixel, file size: 523 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This statue is permantly positioned in water of the Indian Ocean approximately 10 metres off shore from C.Y.OConnor beach. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Legacy

A bronze statue of O'Connor by Pietro Porcelli stands in front of the Fremantle Port Authority buildings, commemorating O'Connor's achievements. Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... Pietro Giacomo Porcelli (1872-1943) was the Italian-born sculptor responsible for many statues in Western Australia, including those of C. Y. OConnor and Alexander Forrest. ...

The beach where O'Connor died was named after him and there is also a statue sculpted by Tony Jones, of him in the water there.

The novel The Drowner by Robert Drewe provides a fictionalised account of O'Connor and the building of the pipeline. Robert Drewe is an Australian Novelist who was born in Melbourne, Victoria, but moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia at the age of 6. ...

On 7 December 1898, his daughter Eva married George Julius at St John's Church, Fremantle.^[10] Julius was the first chairman of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which later became the CSIRO. is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... George Alfred Julius was the founder of Julius Poole & Gibson Pty Ltd and Automatic Totalisators Ltd, and invented the worlds first automatic totalisator. ... The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is the national government body for scientific research in Australia. ...

Notes

1. ^ Evans, 2001 p.13
2. ^ Evans, 2001 p.39
3. ^ A GLIMPSE OF ONE OF THE GIANTS WHO BUILT OUR NATION By P.W. Davis, based upon the book C.Y. O'CONNOR, THE CHIEF, written by Merab Tauman. Heritage Quarterly Magazine. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
4. ^ Evans 2001:53
5. ^ Western Australia. Public Works Dept. Fremantle Harbour works plan National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
6. ^ Evans 2001 p. 179
7. ^ George Negus Tonight Transcript of broadcast 6:30 p.m. on 18 October 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
8. ^ Tauman, Merab Harris (1988). O'Connor, Charles Yelverton (1843 - 1902). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1 pp 51–54. MUP. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
9. ^ CY O’CONNOR CENTENARY (PDF) www.fremantleports.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
10. ^ Julius, Sir George Alfred (1873 - 1946) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition. Retrieved 19 August 2006.

References

• Ayris, Cyril. C.Y.O'Connor : a brief biography West Perth, W.A. : Cyril Ayris Freelance, 2004. ISBN 0-9578853-4-2
• Drewe, Robert. The drowner Sydney : Picador, 1997. ISBN 0-330-36012-4
• Evans, A. G. C.Y. O'Connor : his life and legacy . Crawley, W. A.: University of Western Australia Press, 2001. ISBN 1-876268-62-X
• Hasluck, Alexandra. C.Y. O'Connor. Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1965.
• Tauman, Merab. The chief : C.Y. O'Connor . Nedlands : University of Western Australia Press, 1978. ISBN 0-85564-123-1
• Webb, Martyn J. Death of a hero : the strange suicide of Charles Yelverton O'Connor. Early days Vol. 11, part 1 (1995), p. 81-111.

External links

• Serle, Percival (1949). "O'Connor, Charles". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. 
• Statue Named Perth's Best Public Art

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C. Y. O'Connor

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1949 edition of Dictionary of Australian Biography from
Project Gutenberg of Australia, which is in the public domain in Australia and the United States of America.

Persondata
NAME	O'Connor, Charles Yelverton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	C. Y. O'Connor
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Engineer
DATE OF BIRTH	11 January 1843
PLACE OF BIRTH	Gravelmount, Castletown, County Meath
DATE OF DEATH	March 10, 1902
PLACE OF DEATH	Kwinana, Western Australia