Aussie historian, author & entertainer Jim Haynes joins Overnight each week for his unique knowledge of the not-so-famous characters from Australia’s history. This week Jim shines the spotlight on Charles Yelverton O’Connor – The Man In Charge of Everything.

This is the story of how an Irishman living in New Zealand came to be almost single-handedly responsible for the development of Western Australia.

Charles Yelverton O’Connor (11 January 1843 – 10 March 1902) was born near Waterford, Ireland, into a farming and business family and was the first Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia.

Recruited by Sir John Forrest, the Premier of Western Australia at the time, he was tasked with improving the colony’s railways, roads, water supply, and harbours.

His two most notable projects included the development of Fremantle Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.

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