Ivor William Evans

Ivor William Evans (24 July 1887 – 25 April 1960) was an Australian businessman. As a 14-year-old schoolboy, he was one of five winners of the 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition, held to design a national flag for Australia.

Biography

Evans was born on 24 July 1887 in Carlton, Victoria, the third son of Sally Clara (née Russell) and Evan Evans. His father, an immigrant from Wales, was the founder of a firm that manufactured canvas goods. Evans attended Princes Hill State School before completing his education at the New College on a scholarship. He joined the Commercial Bank of Australia in 1904 and subsequently became manager of its Chillingollah branch.

At the age of 17, he played a single game of senior Australian rules football with the St Kilda Football Club during the 1904 VFL season.

Business career

In 1912, Evans left the Commercial Bank to join his father's company, becoming a partner in 1914. It was a significant supplier to the military during World War I, and in 1920 was incorporated as Evan Evans Pty Ltd. He became managing director in 1922 and oversaw further expansion, including the construction of a factory on Bourke Street, Melbourne, and the opening a retail store in Carlton. In 1944, Evans was appointed as an honorary controller of canvas goods within the Department of Supply. During World War II the company supplied "flags, tents, haversacks, waterbags, troughs, baths, aprons, chairs, beds, sleeping-bags, hammocks, tarpaulins and stretchers". It had outlets in four other states, and by 1952 had over 100 employees. He retired as managing director in 1956. He continued to give interviews about the flag until a year prior to his death.