Photos and life story of William Manderville Ellis L’Estrange ( b. 11-12-1869 d. 20-12-1953 )

Younger brother of the photographer Robert Augustus Henry L’Estrange

Father: Edgar William L’Estrange ( b. 15-11-1826 Dublin, Ireland – d. 17-4-1913 Brisbane Qld., Australia ) Mother: Frances Mary Henderson ( b. 12-10-1833 Ireland – d. 5-7-1907 Chester, England ).

Siblings:

Robert Augustus Henry L'Estrange (b, 1858 - d 1941) John Henderson L’Estrange ( b. 15-1-1864 d. ? ) Alfred Hudson L’Estrange ( b. 1867 d. 1867 ) Emily Frances Evangeline L’Estrange ( b. 4-2-1871 d. 1959 ) Edgar Francis Quinlin L’Estrange ( b. 12-91872 d. 1858 ) Mary L’Estrange ( died in infancy )

William Mandeville Ellis L'Estrange (1868-1951), electrical engineer and administrator, was born on 11 December 1868 in Dublin, son of Edgar William L'Estrange, solicitor, and his wife Mary Frances, née Henderson. Educated at Arnold House, Chester, England, William emigrated to Queensland in 1886. He worked as an assistant to the surveyor C. D. Dunne in 1887-93 before being employed by a relation, E. G. C. Barton, senior partner of Barton, White & Co. (later the Brisbane Electric Supply Co. Ltd and from 1904 the City Electric Light Co. Ltd). In 1898 L'Estrange visited England to negotiate purchases of equipment for the company. He studied electrical engineering in London and at Cologne, Germany, and gained professional experience in the United States of America. (Citation details S. A. Prentice, 'L'Estrange, William Mandeville Ellis (1868–1951)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lestrange-william-mandeville-ellis-10817/text19189, published first in hardcopy 2000, accessed online 12 December 2019.)

Appointed secretary of Barton's firm in 1900, L'Estrange became its joint-manager and engineer in 1912. At St Philip's Anglican Church, Auburn, Sydney, on 20 March 1901 he had married Mary Emmeline Alder. He chaired the Queensland State Repatriation Board in 1915-20. When the Ipswich Electric Supply Co. Ltd was formed in association with C.E.L. in 1917, he was its secretary; he rose to managing director (1927) and chairman (1933). His wise and conservative leadership ensured that his companies were well placed to meet the increasing demand for electricity. Granted leave of absence in 1935, he retired in 1938.

L'Estrange had been a member of the Queensland Electrical Association and president (1911) of the Queensland Institute of Engineers. As a member of a committee formed by the Q.I.E. in 1914 to consider schemes for improved road construction and as president (1915-16) of the (Royal) Automobile Club of Queensland, he proposed the formation of a department of highways to control road-making. He also advocated a change in legislation to allow the reticulation of electricity supply by overhead rather than underground mains. In 1933-34 he was chairman of the Brisbane division of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. From 1922 he had been the institution's representative on the Great Barrier Reef Committee. He was a member (1913) of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a fellow (1919) of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, London.

Described as quiet and unassuming, L'Estrange took a close interest in Brisbane's public life. He was involved in the development of the University of Queensland as warden (1922-27) of the standing committee of council, a member (1927-35) of the senate and chairman (1928-34) of the buildings and grounds committee. In retirement he lived at Toowoomba. His recreations included golf and yachting. A widower, on 20 October 1949 at St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Toowoomba, L'Estrange married 57-year-old Elizabeth Mary McGee; like her husband, she was a former secretary of the Ipswich Electric Supply Co. Ltd. Survived by his wife, and by the son and three daughters of his first marriage, he died on 20 December 1951 at Toowoomba and was cremated; his estate was sworn for probate at £100,297.

Pioneer of QLD power dies at 83.

“ TOOWOOMBA, Thursday. — Mr. William Mandeville L'Estrange, 83, a pioneer of electricity, died at his Toowoomba home tonight. He was well known in Queensland engineering, business, and University circles, and was one of the founders of the City Electric Light Company. He was chairman of directors of the company from 1928 until his retirement about 12 years ago. Mr. L'Estrange has left a son, Mr. G. G. L'Estrange, of Sandgate, and four daughters. Worked as cook Mr. W. M. L'Estrange came to Australia about 1880. One of his first jobs was as cook to an explorer surveyor in Queensland. Later, he took up tobacco growing on the Upper Coomera, but was washed out in the 1893 floods. He moved to Brisbane, where he was employed by Barton and White - the parent company of City Electric Light. He started work as an electrician in the company of which he later became managing director. Back to England The company went bankrupt in the financial slump after the floods, and Mr. L'Estrange worked his way round the world back to England. He studied engineering and electrical engineering in London, Germany, and America. Returning to Australia, he was one of a group of men who "bought" the bankrupt Barton and White concern from the banks and founded the City Electric Light Company. He was company secretary from 1900 to 1912; and joint manager and engineer from 1912-15. From 1920 to 1928 he was a joint governing director and became managing director in 1923. At various times he was a University warden, an engineering representative on the Senate and chairman of the local Institute of Engineers.