Russell Dumas

Sir Russell John Dumas KBE, CMG (17 January 1887 – 10 August 1975) was a public servant and engineer who led several large works projects in Western Australia.

Early life Dumas was born in Mount Barker, South Australia second of five children of Charles M. R. Dumas (1851–1935), who founded the Mount Barker Courier newspaper. Dumas attended Prince Alfred College and completed a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Adelaide.

Career Dumas started work as a draughtsman in the Engineer-in-Chief's Department in 1910, Honorary Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 1966. Dumas House, a State government office building, is named in his honour. A bronze plaque with Dumas's name was laid in the footpath of St Georges Terrace, Perth as part of the WAY 1979 celebrations to commemorate 150 notable figures in Western Australia's history. Lincoln Street Ventilation Stack, also known as Dumas's Folly, is an obelisk or plinth-like structure in Perth. And while it was not useful for its intended purpose it was repurposed as a radio-frequency antenna during WWII.