William Harper Twelvetrees

Who was William Harper Twelvetrees?

William Harper Twelvetrees was an English geologist who was important the characterisation of the geology of Tasmania.

Twelvetrees was born in Bedfordshire, England, in 1848, and educated at London and in Germany. From 1871 to 1880 he was employed at copper mines in eastern Russia, and from 1882 to 1890 at the Lidjessi silver-lead mines in Asia Minor of which he was general manager from 1884. He came to Tasmania in 1890 and followed various occupations until August 1899, when he was appointed Tasmanian government geologist and chief inspector of mines.

In 1914 the office of chief inspector of mines was made a separate one, but Twelvetrees continued to act as government geologist and director of the geological survey of Tasmania until his death. He worked with energy and enthusiasm and his department grew in size and importance. He also interested himself in the Launceston Museum, which was extended so that the excellent geological survey collection of specimens could be housed. He died at Launceston after a short illness on 7 November 1919. He was married twice, to Miss Austen, to Miss Genders who survived him. He was awarded the Clarke Medal of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1912.