David Lennox
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Born | |
Baptised | February 1788 |
Died | 12 November 1873(1873-11-12) (aged 85) |
Nationality | British |
Known for | Pioneering bridge building |
David Lennox (1788 – 12 November 1873) was a Scottish-Australian bridge builder and master stonemason born in Ayr, Scotland.
Trained as a stonemason, Lennox worked on Telford's Menai Suspension BridgeatAngleseyinWales and on Over BridgeatGloucester before emigrating to Australia[1] following the death of his wife.[2] He arrived in August 1832 aboard the ship Florentia.[3]
Prior to this time, the young colony of New South Wales had no skilled stonemasons, and so it was almost fate that a chance meeting with the Surveyor-General, Major Thomas Mitchell should result in Lennox—by now a Master Stonemason with twenty years' experience—becoming, provisionally, Sub-Inspector of Bridges and later Superintendent of Bridges.
Lennox moved to Melbourne in 1844, to take up a position responsible for bridges in the Port Phillip district.
Lennox retired in November 1853 and returned to New South Wales two years later where he lived in Parramatta.[4] He died on 12 November 1873, and was buried in old St John's cemetery, Parramatta.[4] His grave was never marked so it is not known exactly where he was interred.[4]
As well as bridges, Lennox was also in charge of roads, wharves and ferries in the Port Phillip district.