History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Harry Keith Burbury

Harry Keith Burbury

Harry Keith "Keith" Burbury (1897-1986) was an early wireless experimenter in Tasmania in the early 1910s though (like many youngsters of the time) there appears to be no record of a licence having been issued. He joined AWA in 1914 and was trained at the Marconi School of Wireless in Sydney. Like his older brother Eric Alfred Burbury, he commenced his professional career in AWA's marine division as a ship wireless officer. He served on the RMS Makura, RMS Marama, Niagara, Maheno, Maitai, Kapunda, SS Loongana, Pateena, South Africa, Katoomba, Yankalilla, Cooma and Bundarra. He returned to shore in 1920 and continued with AWA as the Instructor and Superintendent of the Marconi School of Wireless in Melbourne. During this period he also was engaged at the AWA Koo-we-rup station (established by his brother) and engaged in pioneering shortwave propagation research at the behest of Ernest Thomas Fisk which was crucial to the subsequent development of the Beam Wireless service. He joined the Postmaster-General's Department in 1925, initially managing the Wave Hill land station. In 1929 he was appointed as a radio inspector based in the Sydney state office. He was promoted to Superintendent Radio Branch, Tasmania in 1941. Again promoted to similar position for South Australia in 1947. He retired in 1957 and returned to Sydney, where he passed in 1986. (Much credit to OTC Veteran's newsletter of April 1987)

A summary biography has not yet been prepared however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Transcriptions and Notes - Harry Keith Burbury - More than 50 transcriptions and notes
• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Harry Keith Burbury - Nothing uploaded as yet