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Essington Lewis photo by Hammer & Co-

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Essington Lewis

Essington Lewis was a prominent Australian Industrialist however he was the director general of the department of Munitions during world war II.

Moreover, he supported the establishment of the motor industry in Australia in the year 1948 being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially produced Holden 48-215.

Furthermore, he was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor on 24^th September 1943 for his work as director of Munitions and Aircraft production in world war II.

In addition, his life is the subject of several books including The Steel Master: a life of Essington Lewis by historian Geoffrey Blainey and by Clive Turnbull. Here are the top 10 amazing facts about Essington Lewis.

1. Essington Lewis was named after Port Essington where his father owned a cattle property

Essington Lewis photo by Unknown-

Essington Lewis was born in Burra South Australia on 13^th January the year 1881.

However, his father was the pastoralist and politician John Lewis and founder of Bagot Shakes and Lewis. Moreover, Essington Lewis was named after Port Essington where his father owned a cattle property.

He was educated at ST peter鈥檚 College Adelaide and the South Australia School of Mines.

2. He helped establish the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

During his travels to Germany and Japan in the 1930s, he realized the threat of these countries to Australia.

However, he helped establish the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and many munitions facilities meaning Australia was better prepared for industrialization when the war started in 1939.

Furthermore, during World War II he also served as Director General of the Department of Munitions.

He supported the establishment of the motor industry in Australia in 1948 being rewarded by being able to purchase the first commercially produced Holden 48-215.

In addition, Essington Lewis was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor on 24^th September 1943 for his work as Director of Munitions and Aircraft production in World War II.  

3. Essington Lewis served as a business consultant during World War II

He urged the government and the industry to prepare for war and when war came he served first as a business consultant to the Department of Defense.

However, in May 1940 he was appointed as the Director General of Munitions by Prime Minister Robert Menzies.

As chairman of a large committee of leading businessmen and Defense Department staff, he wielded enormous power over everything essential to the war effort.

4. He had a Fetish for Punctuality, Discipline, and Efficiency  

Generous to deserving causes Essington Lewis abhorred idleness shunned publicity and had a fetish for Punctuality, discipline, and efficiency.

However, his insistence on dominating every situation could sometimes produce an overbearing aggressiveness.

5. Essington Lewis was a long-term member of the Standards Australia Council

Essington Lewis acted as an important personal link between Standards Australia and the aircraft industry and he was a long-term member of the Standards Australia Council.

鈥�As Controller General of the Department of Munitions and Director General of Aircraft Production Essington Lewis had unprecedented statutory powers under the war legislation.

He had a huge influence over the formation of standards within this space during the Second World War.

During this time Mr. Lewis Helped shape industry standards which have had lasting impacts.鈥� Said Adam Stingemore Standards Australia鈥檚 General Manager of Engagement and Communications.

6. He believed that Australia would ultimately become so Wealthy and Populous

Essington Lewis believed in the 1920s that Australia would ultimately become so wealthy and populous that it would be 鈥�the new home of the British Empire.鈥�

However, he believed that with the aid of science Australia could earn as much from selling wheat as from wool.

That its dairy farms could become as rich as Denmark鈥檚 and also that railways would enable even the Northern Territory to pasture millions of sheep as we as vast herds of cattle.

The continent he believed could also support a powerful steel industry.

7. Essington Lewis refused a Knighthood for his contribution to the Nation

Lewis who hated publicity refused a knighthood for his extraordinary contribution to the nation even when John Curtin recommended him.

However, Lewis wrote: 鈥�I feel that I owe Australia everything and that Australia owes me very little. Again permit me to say how very deeply I appreciate your kind remarks and your courtesy to me at all times.鈥�

8. He subordinated his Interests completely to the Common Interest

Essington Leis subordinated his interests completely to the common interest. However, he claimed no credit for his work and was quick to praise what others did.

The crisis seemed to heighten his greatness in him because he worked his backside off.

He would often visit a dozen plants in a day. From Melbourne to the Air Force at Richmond in NSW to the Blue Mountains to Orange or Wellington and Dubbo and home to Sydney or Melbourne.

These tours lifted morale and tugged at the sluggish lines of communication which so often choke massive organizations.

Furthermore, he always made it clear that although the bureaucrats were loftier in the hierarchy they were servants of the toolmakers, fitters, and munitions workers.

The aim of his department he emphasized was to produce munitions, not ink and paper.

9. Essington Lewis was always most concerned about the Working Man

Due to his rural working-class background, he was always most concerned about the working man realizing that an additional quota of efficiency and effort in the men who did the unexciting tasks was worth more than almost anything he could do as managing director.

 10. Essington Lewis died in 1961

Essington Lewis died in the year 1961 at his property 鈥淟andscape鈥� which is just north of Melbourne.

However, when his possessions were cleared from his office they discovered a short text which had been framed on his wall for many years which simply read 鈥�I am work.鈥�