Henry Coathupe Mais

Henry Coathupe Mais (14 May 1827 – 25 February 1916) was a British-born Australian engineer. He was engineer-in-chief to the Government of South Australia, and chairman of the Victorian Advisory Committee of the Institution of Civil Engineers for sixteen years.

Early life and education Mais was born in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, England, the son of Henry Mais (1805–1888), engineer, and his wife Amelia Jane, née Coathupe (1803–1868). in Sydney in December 1850. However, he found unsettled conditions and became acting engineer for the Sydney Railway Company. Later he worked as assistant engineer for City Commissioners' Department on the water and sewerage works. In January 1857 a select committee accused him of inexcusable errors and 'gross misconduct'. He resigned as engineer-in-chief in March 1888 after being accused of accepting private work and using government draftsmen on Silverton Tramway Company projects.

Mais then became a consulting engineer in Melbourne, was chairman of the Victorian Advisory Committee of the Institution of Civil Engineers for sixteen years. He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (London), of the Society of Engineers UK, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He died at his home in South Yarra, Victoria on 25 February 1916 and was survived by three sons and two daughters. He was buried in Kew Cemetery on 28 February 1916.