Cover image for Wilkinson Family
Agency:
Wilkinson Family
Agency Number:
Start Date:
01 Jan 1904
Description:
Thomas Washington Wilkinson (c.1871 - 6/11/1953 ) began his working life in1888 for the Blackpool Corporation Gasworks. With the Gasworks he gained skills in public electric lighting and steam plant. After working on the installation of the Blackpool Electricity Works, Wilkinson joined the staff of the Tramway Department. In 1899 he joined the Aberdeen Corporation Electricity Works as Chief Tramway Assistant. He met his wife Elizabeth in Aberdeen, and there they had two children, Harold Alexander and Dorothy Eileen. In 1907 he left Aberdeen to superintend the erection of the new works for the British Insulator Wire Company Ltd, at Prescot, Lancashire. In 1908 Wilkinson travelled with his family from the UK to South Australia as local representative of the British Insulated and Helsby Cables Limited. While in Adelaide he was in charge of the erection of the whole of the overhead equipment of the city tramways. After being transferred to Tasmania, from 1911 to 1913 he was in charge of the Street Distribution System in Hobart and suburbs. After being recalled to England in 1914, Wilkinson decided to permanently migrate to Tasmania. In 1915-1916 he was Foreman in charge of stringing of the conductors on the main transmission line of the Hydro-Electric Department. From 1917 he was the Transmission Line Superintendent with the Hydro. During this time he was in charge of the construction of the North-West Bay transmission line. He resigned from this post in October 1919. After trying to establish himself as a private contractor, in the 1920s he worked for the Public Works Department as
Information Sources:
Wilkinson family papers
Functions Performed:
Family archives
Series Created By Agency:
NS1568 Family Papers01 Jan 190431 Dec 1964

NS6832 Papers of Thomas Washington Wilkinson27 Nov 190731 Dec 1930

NS3477 Photographs26 Jul 191331 Dec 1949