Roll of Honour - State Engineering Works

The State Engineering and Implement Works was one of a number of trading concerns established by the Scadden Labor Government in the early 1900s in a bid to stimulate the local economy. Over the years, the name was shortened to State Engineering Works. In Western Australia the State Engineering Works were located at 101 Thompson Road, North Fremantle
The State Engineering and Implement Works was established in 1912 and absorbed the existing Harbour Workshops, which had been operating under the Public Works Department at Rous Head since 1908. Work on the State Engineering and Harbour Works site at Rocky Bay commenced on 1 July 1913, on land previously quarried by the Public Works Department. Employing 618 men it opened on 23 March 1914. The many shops of the Works included a foundry and steel fabrication, pattern making, woodworking, machining, fitting and blacksmithing departments. Staff also offered other services such as research, drawing and estimating.

Men worked on 12 hour shifts during World War II, thanks to the needs of the Allied military forces. The Works fabricated bren gun carriers, submarine propeller shafts and floating docks, and made emergency repairs for hospitals, airfields and harbours. The Works continued to operate until the late 1980s, concentrating on supplying import replacements and manufacturing equipment for the mining industry. In 1983, the Works manufactured the famed secret winged keel for America's Cup challenger, Australia II. The Works closed in 1987