Dawson, Richard (Dicky)

Engineer and ironmaster who established a foundry near Sydney Cove in 1833 and spent four decades improving process and product despite financial problems. His innovations and transfer of technologies made him an industrial leader of the time.

Milestone

Born

Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England

1800

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Arrived Sydney

1833

{"name":"Arrived Sydney","target":"","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1833<\/span>"},"date_start":"1833","date_end":"1833"}

Died

Riverstone

08 Jun 1865

{"name":"Died","target":"","target_text":"Riverstone","date":{"#markup":"08 Jun 1865<\/span>"},"date_start":"1865-06-08","date_end":"1865-06-08"}

Buried

Camperdown Cemetery

11 Jun 1865

{"name":"Buried","target":"Camperdown Cemetery","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"11 Jun 1865<\/span>"},"date_start":"1865-06-11","date_end":"1865-06-11"}

Occupation

Ironworker

{"name":"Ironworker","target":"","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Merchant

{"name":"Merchant","target":"","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Ship builder

{"name":"Ship builder","target":"","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Engineer

{"name":"Engineer","target":"","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Property

Owner of

Rover's Bride

{"name":"Owner of","target":"Rover's Bride","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Owner of

Australian Foundry

1833 - 1865

{"name":"Owner of","target":"Australian Foundry","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1833<\/span> - <\/span>1865<\/span>"},"date_start":"1833","date_end":"1865"}

Owner of

Anna Maria

1849 - 1851

{"name":"Owner of","target":"Anna Maria","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1849<\/span> - <\/span>1851<\/span>"},"date_start":"1849","date_end":"1851"}

Owner of

Agnes Napier

1854 - 1855

{"name":"Owner of","target":"Agnes Napier","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1854<\/span> - <\/span>1855<\/span>"},"date_start":"1854","date_end":"1855"}

Owner of

Sydney Ice Company

1862 - 1865

{"name":"Owner of","target":"Sydney Ice Company","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1862<\/span> - <\/span>1865<\/span>"},"date_start":"1862-01-01","date_end":"1865-01-01"}

Relationship

Business partner

Nicolle, Eugene Dominique

{"name":"Business partner","target":"Nicolle, Eugene Dominique","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Business partner

Castle, Henry

{"name":"Business partner","target":"Castle, Henry","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"<\/span>"},"date_start":null,"date_end":null}

Spouse

Dawson, Sarah

1825 - 1847

{"name":"Spouse","target":"Dawson, Sarah","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1825<\/span> - <\/span>1847<\/span>"},"date_start":"1825-01-01","date_end":"1847-01-01"}

Spouse

Dawson, Rhoda Dainton

28 Jul 1848 - 10 May 1849

{"name":"Spouse","target":"Dawson, Rhoda Dainton","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"28 Jul 1848<\/span> - <\/span>10 May 1849<\/span>"},"date_start":"1848-07-28","date_end":"1849-05-10"}

Spouse

Dawson, Louisa

1850 - 1865

{"name":"Spouse","target":"Dawson, Louisa","target_text":null,"date":{"#markup":"1850<\/span> - <\/span>1865<\/span>"},"date_start":"1850-01-01","date_end":"1865-01-01"}

Richard Dawson's Australian Foundry

Harry Irwin

2015

Dawson's Foundry (the Australian Foundry) at George Street and Sydney Cove was the colony's first important iron foundry and a machining and engineering works that operated for four decades. This leading colonial manufactory played an important role in transferring iron trade and engineering technology from England to the Antipodes. Surviving cast iron artefacts represent the industry of the site, which was both a factory and the owner's residence.

image

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Dawson, Richard (Dicky)

Richard Dawson's Australian Foundry

Camperdown Cemetery

Rover's Bride

Australian Foundry

Anna Maria

Agnes Napier

Sydney Ice Company

Nicolle, Eugene Dominique

Castle, Henry

Dawson, Sarah

Dawson, Rhoda Dainton

Dawson, Louisa