George Smith Duncan

Engineer, Deceased Person

1852 – 1930

29

Who was George Smith Duncan?

George Smith Duncan was a tramway and mining engineer best known for his work on cable trams, and for his work in the gold mining industry.

Duncan was born on 11 July 1852 in the city of Dunedin New Zealand, the third son of George and Elspet Duncan, recent Scottish immigrants. He was educated at Clifton College near Bristol in England, and at both the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of Otago in New Zealand. He was subsequently appointed engineer for the District of Otago.

On 1 September 1876, with John Reid and James W. Duncan, the partnership, 'Reid and Duncans', Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Land Agents, and Share and Money Brokers was formed, with offices at Moray Place, Dunedin.

Between 1879 and 1883, Duncan was responsible for the development of the Dunedin cable tramway system. He was then appointed consulting engineer for the development of the Melbourne cable tramway system in Australia, a post he held until 1892, being largely responsible for the development of over 44 miles of cable tram route.

Shortly after leaving his post in Melbourne, Duncan travelled to both America and Europe.

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Born
1852
New Zealand
Profession
Education
  • University of Edinburgh
  • Clifton College
Lived in
  • Otago
Died
1930

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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