Vogan, Harold James

Vogan, born in Woollahra Sydney, graduated from the University of Sydney with the University medal in Civil Engineering in 1915. In 1918, he was awarded the Walter and Eliza Hall Travelling Fellowship which enabled him to gain experience in the USA and England; he worked for a year under S H E Barraclough, officer-in-charge of Australian Munitions workers in Britain. The University appointed Vogan as lecturer and demonstrator in Civil Engineering in 1923; he was promoted to reader in 1947, retiring in 1959. Vogan had extensive teaching duties with students in Aeronautical and Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture. In 1934, he held the G A Taylor Memorial Lectureship in Aeronautical Engineering. He lectured in aeronautical engineering for the University Extension Board. In 1943, the Australian Government appointed Vogan to assist the High Court with technical advice on aircraft materials. Vogan was responsible for the Engineering School's Materials Testing Laboratory, among the largest of such facilities in Australia carrying out tests for government departments, firms and individuals. He acted as a consultant, for the Engineering Department and in a private capacity, on the use of concrete in construction. His pioneer work with concrete included the building of the Sydney Municipal Council's Town Hall stores.