Harold Charles Richards
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Harold Charles Richards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 November 1925 |
| Died | 2 June 2014 (aged 88) |
| Education | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Civil engineer |
| Employer | Hardcastle & Richards |
| Known for | Contributions to engineering education, philanthropy |
| Spouse | Joyce |
| Children | Anthony, Margaret, Noel, Rosalie, Naomi |
Harold Charles Richards (12 October 1925 – 2 June 2014) was an Australian civil engineer who co-founded the consulting engineering firm Hardcastle & Richards.[1]
Harold Richards studied engineering at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.[2] In 1951, he worked in the Design Section of Johns and Waygood, which was responsible for many of Australia's post-war infrastructure developments.[3] In 1952, he co-founded Hardcastle & Richards with business partner Roy Hardcastle, as a result of winning the design competition for the Olympic Stadium for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. However, a change in government caused the cancellation of the project. The firm expanded to have offices in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Broken Hill.[4] The firm was involved in many civil engineering projects, including the King Street Bridge over the Yarra River.[5] In 1962, Hardcastle & Richards were invited by the School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne to participate in guiding students' final year design projects.[3] These projects were based on actual projects in which the firm had been involved. This association with engineering education lasted five decades.
Other positions held:[1]
- Chairman of the Victorian Institute of Marine Science, 1994-1997
- Chairman of the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 1997-1998
- Member of the Board of Management, Greenvale Centre and Mount Royal Hospital, 1990-1991
- President Emeritus, Broadmeadows College of TAFE, 1989-1993
- Elder, St John's Uniting Church in Australia, 1977-2014
- Councillor, Shire of Bulla, 1965-1985
- President, Shire of Bulla, 1972
- President of the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia, 1977-1980
- Vice-President of the Australian College of Professions, 1975
- National Vice-President, Institution of Engineers Australia, 1973-1975
- Member of the National Capital Planning Committee, 1973-1978
- Member of Board of Management, North West Hospital, Melbourne, 1991-1995