H. B. Hawke


Henry Binney Hawke, usually referred to as H. B. Hawke, was an industrialist in Kapunda, South Australia, who founded the manufacturing business that became H. B. Hawke & Co. He was one of the many engineering innovators who played an active part in the economic development of South Australia in the 19th century by inventing and manufacturing machinery and processes for the rapidly expanding agricultural and mining industries, and for construction of infrastructure such as bridges, water management works and major buildings.

Early life

Hawke was born in Cornwall, orphaned and reputedly raised by a family of smugglers. He migrated to South Australia, arriving in January 1849 aboard the William Money at a time of high migration from Britain. He found work with William Pybus's Victoria Foundry on Hindley Street, Adelaide, and within two years was able to purchase a property at the corner of Cambridge and Tynte streets, North Adelaide.
Hawke was reported to have joined the rush to the Victorian goldfields around 1850. In January 1852 he married Christina Rayner, an 18-year-old fellow passenger on the William Money.
In 1857, he moved to Kapunda, where he "took over" the small foundry associated with the Adamson Brothers' farm machinery works.

Foundry

The first major cast iron product of the North Kapunda Foundry was a weighbridge table weighing in May 1859. For a hundred years, through various changes of managers and ownership, the business's weighbridges remained a staple product, together with very large water pumps such as those on the River Murray, crushing plants, road rollers, hydraulic presses and car hoists. A pit-head wheel weighing six or seven tons was cast for BHP; it was in diameter and wide, grooved for 13 ropes. Hawke's business was the first to use Kapunda marble as a flux in smelting, which was also reported to have been used by the smelters at Broken Hill.
In agricultural machinery the foundry produced the "Advance" mowing machine, and Hawke's Patent broadcast seed-sower. A range of Hawke's machinery, including a cross-compound steam engine, is in the Kapunda Museum.

Reputation

Hawke was a well-known and respected person who was appreciated for the business and employment he brought to the town. He was described, on account of his profound deafness, as not being able "publicly to take part in many movements connected with the town, but in his own private way he did much to help them on". In later years the only way to communicate with him was by writing. He took a great interest in scientific advances, and devoted much of his spare time to reading and mechanical inventions.
In June 1884 he sold the Kapunda Foundry and retired with his family to Port Lincoln, but in 1891 they returned to Kapunda.

Company

The new owners of the business, who immediately renamed it H. B. Hawke & Co., were local businessmen William Thomas and his brother-in-law, Rees Rees, both of whom would serve as mayors of Kapunda.
In 1895 William Thomas resigned, selling his share to politician David James. They remained business partners until 1903, when Rees became sole proprietor. The company remained in the Rees family until 1983, when the foundry ceased operation; the buildings associated with the business were demolished in 1984. The company has been described as having been "an integral part of the region’s survival and success for 126 years".

Death

Hawke died suddenly on 17 March 1904, aged 76, while playing billiards at a Kapunda hotel with his son. He was buried at the Kapunda cemetery.

Family

Hawke married Christina Rayner, a fellow-passenger on the William Money, in January 1852. They had two surviving daughters:
Hawke married again in 1868, to Julia Barkla. Their children included:
  • D'Arcy Melvin Hawke, of the Telegraph Department
  • Ida Vanessa Eulalie Hawke of Kapunda
  • Ethel Maud Hawke, who married George Thomas Bleechmore on 23 January 1901 and lived in Brisbane, Queensland
  • Harold Binney Hawke, who married Clarice Kate Hales
  • Herbert Tyndal Hawke
  • Stella Hawke, who married Walter Cecil Marsden in 1905.