History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Alfred Harold Masters

Alfred Harold Masters

A comprehensive biography of Alfred Harold Masters has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Research - Alfred Harold Masters - Summary of research to date

• Transcriptions and Notes - Alfred Harold Masters - More than 80 transcriptions

• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Alfred Harold Masters - Nothing uploaded as yet

• Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Alfred Harold Masters - About 30% complete

Pending further progress on the foregoing, the following obituary in the Launceston Examiner for Masters adequately summarises his life

Architect's Death. MR. ALFRED Harold Masters, one of the pioneers of radiotelegraphy and X-ray photography and a brilliant engineer and architect died in Launceston yesterday. HE was aged 77. Mr. Masters, who lived at 18 Forest Rd., was born at Albury. His father, Mr. Joseph Masters, was successively inspector, director and secretary of education in Tasmania. Mr. Masters was one of the first students at the Technical College when it was housed in the Quadrant. Mr. Masters began his career in J. and T. Gunn's architectural department. He later went into business as an architect and consulting electrician. For a time he was in partnership with Mr. Eric North. In 1907 Mr. Masters was appointed secretary and director of the Launceston Technical School, where he also conducted classes in architecture and electricity. He resigned from that position in 1915 and became a member of the Technical College Council. Mr. Masters again conducted classes at the college about two years ago. While teaching at the college he built a wireless set which sent the first Morse Code message over a distance in Northern Tasmania. He contacted a naval vessel down the Tamar. He was beaten by only a few hours in taking the first X-ray photographs in Tasmania. He had a very keen interest in photography and was a member of the Camera Club. Mr. Masters was best known for his architectural work. He designed many of the main Launceston buildings, but later confined himself to residential architecture. He took a prominent part in the formation of the Tasmanian Institute of Architects prior to the formation of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. He was a keen worker for Christ Church (Congregational), Frederick St., being a deacon for many years. He leaves a wife, three daughters — Joyce (Mrs. Edney Forward) and Misses Muriel and Thelma Masters — and a son, Mr. Alan Masters, Hobart.