Nigel Ridgway

Nigel  Ridgway graduated from the Whyalla Institute of Technology and the BHP traineeship system with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1988. After graduating Nigel was employed as the Mill Engineer at Western Mining Corporation’s Olympic Dam site. He has been employed in the slurry pump and mining industry for 15 years and has an interest in fluid mechanics, tribology and mineral processing. He is currently Operations Manager for a South Australian engineering firm.

Nigel has been a member of the SA Division’s Engineering Heritage & History Branch for many years and was Chairman from 2000 to 2006. In this role, he survived many Historic Engineering plaquings including the Trans Australia Railway, the Barossa Dam, and the River Murray systems. During this time he was also a member of the National Board of Engineering Heritage Australia.

Nigel has represented Engineers Australia on the History Council of South Australia and later became Vice President. He was chosen to be the South Australian representative on the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. Nigel is also a member of the International Stationary Steam Engine Society (ISSES) and has contributed articles on mines and engines to the ISSES Bulletin.

He is a Fellow member of Engineers Australia and has just completed his PhD thesis at the University of Adelaide.

Paper: The Coorong Battery at the Winnecke Gold Mine, NT