Warren Bonython

Bonython was born in Adelaide, South Australia, to John Lavington Bonython (later Sir John),W. B. Pitcher, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070346b.htm Bonython, Sir John Lavington (1875 - 1960)], Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, pp 341-342. and Constance Jean, née Warren (Lady Jean Bonython).Joyce Gibberd, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130248b.htm Bonython, Constance Jean (1891 - 1977)], Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, Melbourne University Press, 1993, pp 215-216. His grandfather was Sir John Langdon Bonython.W. B. Pitcher, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070345b.htm Bonython, Sir John Langdon (1848 - 1939)], Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, pp 339-341. He had one brother (Kym Bonython), one sister (Katherine Downer Verco), a half-brother (John Langdon Bonython) and two half-sisters (Lady Elizabeth (Betty) Hornabrook Wilson and Ada Bray Heath). (See John Lavington Bonython#Family for more detail.)

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Bonython studied chemical engineering at the University of Adelaide. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science, he accepted a position with ICI Australia Ltd. There he conducted research and management in the solar salt industry, from 1940 to 1966, and served for 20 years as manager of the salt fields at Dry Creek in Adelaide. At the age of 50 he retired from his industrial career in 1966 in order to devote his time to his many other interests.

Bonython's lifetime interests in conservation and exploration were first publicly recognised by his appointment as President, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch, in 1959.[http://www.rgssa.org.au/ Royal Geographical Society of South Australia], www.rgssa.org.au

Bonython is credited with the conception of the Heysen Trail.[http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/heysen_trail/history.htm History of the Heysen Trail], www.heysentrail.asn.au{{cite news | last = Harris | first = Samela | date = 3 April 2012 | title = Heysen Trail creator Warren Bonython dies, aged 95 | work = The Advertiser (AdelaideNow) | url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/heysen-trail-creator-warren-bonython-dies-aged-95/story-e6frea83-1226317520322 }}

In 1973, he and friend Charles McCubbin[http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/06/23/2935004.htm Vale Charles McCubbin], 23 June 2010, ABC Gippsland; [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-06-22/artist-charles-mccubbin-dies-at-79/876460 Artist Charles McCubbin dies at 79], 22 June 2010, ABC News walked 463 kilometres north-south across the Simpson Desert, pulling a 250-kilogram loaded trailer dubbed "the Comalco Camel",[http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/display?irn=119323 "Water and supply cart known as 'The Comalco Camel' which Warren Bonython and Charles McCubbin pulled across the Simpson Desert in 1973], National Museum of Australia Collections. Also: [http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/display?irn=58493 Green, blue and pink camel soft toy mascot from the drawbar of the Comalco Camel], National Museum of Australia Collections. the trek lasting 32 days.{{cite book | last = Braby | first = Michael |author2=Penny Olsen | title = A Flutter of Butterflies | year = 2011 | publisher = National Library of Australia | location = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | isbn = 9780642277251 | page = 81 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Eg0Ywy3KA3QC&pg=PA81}}

In 1982, he and companion walker Terry KreigEloise Fuss [http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/04/04/3470818.htm?site=northandwest Heysen trail legacy to live on], 4 April 2012, ABC became the first white people to walk the 500 km around the shores of Lake Eyre.Terry Kreig (2002) [http://www.rgssa.org.au/Books_Pub_Recent.htm "Walking on Eyre"], RGSSA

At the age of 75, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

Source:

:* President, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia South Australian Branch 1959-61

:* South Australian Chairman, Water Research Foundation of Australia 1961-76[http://www.eoas.info/biogs/A002107b.htm Water Research Foundation of Australia], Encyclopaedia of Australian Science

:* Foundation Committee Member, Australian Solar Energy Society 1962[http://auses.org.au/about/ About AuSES], Australian Solar Energy Society

:* Colombo Plan Adviser on salt to the Ceylon government 1964

:* Member of the first executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation 1965-73.

:* Director, Dampier Salt Ltd 1968-79.

:* President, Conservation Council of South Australia 1971-75

:* President, National Trust of South Australia 1971-76

:* Chairman, Long Distance Trail Committee 1971-78

:* Member of the Australian Heritage Commission 1976-91

:* Chairman, Evaluation Panel for Natural Areas in South Australia, Australian Heritage Commission 1977-91

:* Member of the Uranium Advisory Council 1978-83

:* Officer of the Order of Australia 1980, in recognition of service to conservation[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/878353 It's an Honour]

:* President, Royal Society of South Australia 1980-81[http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rssa/history/ RSSA Presidents] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404195943/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rssa/history/ |date=4 April 2012 }}, Royal Society of South Australia

:* Chairman, Reserves Advisory Committee to Minister of Environment and Planning South Australia 1981-84

:* John Lewis Gold Medal (for Exploration), Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (SA Branch) 1984[http://www.rgssa.org.au/Awards.htm Awards Made by the Society]; [http://www.rgssa.org.au/Award_Winners.htm Award Winners]; Royal Geographical Society of South Australia

:* President, Scientific Expedition Group 1984-?

:* President, Council of the National Parks Foundation of South Australia 1985-89

:* Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year 1990

In his early years, Warren Bonython owned the first MG sports car in South Australia, and set the speed record on Sellicks Beach.

He married Cynthia Eyres Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Young of Romalo Avenue Magill, on 12 April 1941 at the Church of the Epiphany at Crafers.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8184625 Easter Weddings], 14 April 1941, The Argus (Melbourne), pg.3[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19410414&id=RzkTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6085,851245 Adelaide Wedding], 14 April 1941, The Age, pg.2

He began bushwalking while living in Melbourne in the 1940s. With his wife Cynthia, (known as Bunty), together they walked through the Dandenong and Cathedral Ranges. With the birth of the first of their three children, (Simon, Veryan and Alice),[http://tributes.theage.com.au/obituaries/theage-au/obituary.aspx?n=c-warren-bonython&pid=156857713 Tributes], 5 April 2012, The Age Bunty decided against further bushwalking, but supported him in his subsequent walks. After World War II, he returned with his family to Adelaide, and from this base continued to plan long walks, in outback South Australia and elsewhere.{{cite book | last = Hutton | first = Drew |author2=Libby Connors | title = A History of the Australian Environment Movement | year = 1999 | publisher = Cambridge University Press | location = United Kingdom | isbn = 0-521-45076-4 | page = 73 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dlsbib7EN4AC&pg=PA136}} His walks included: walking the length of the MacDonnell Ranges; the Larapinta Trail; Lake Eyre; Northern India to the border of Kashmir; the Sierra Club’s high trek in Nevada; climbing the mountains of Maui and walking through the craters; numerous visits to New Zealand; the Everest Trek; and the 463 km crossing of the Simpson Desert, described in his book "Walking the Simpson Desert".Jo Chesher, [http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/assets/trailwalker/C%20Warren%20Bonython%20from%20104%20Trailwalker%20Winter%202007%20RGB%20%5BDISTILLER%5D.pdf "The Friends’ (of the Heysen Trail) Patron, C Warren Bonython AO : A Patron’s Walking Life"], Trailwalker, Winter 2007, pp.18-20

Except for the period in Melbourne, the Bonythons lived their entire married life in "Romalo House", (located at 24 Romalo Avenue, Magill, South Australia), having bought the home and adjacent land from Bunty's parents.Simon Blight [http://www.wild.com.au/news/article/vale-warren-bonython Vale Warren Bonython] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910100056/http://www.wild.com.au/news/article/vale-warren-bonython |date=10 September 2012 }}, 5 April 2012, www.wild.com.au In 2000 it was announced: "The undeveloped allotment at 22 Romalo Avenue Magill, formerly owned by Warren and Bunty Bonython, is being amalgamated with the adjoining walkway to form a reserve to be known as Young Park. This has been made possible through the generosity of the Bonythons and assistance from the State Government Open Space Planning and Development Fund."[http://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Ops_agenda_230101.pdf Young Park, Magill - Management Plan], Agenda, Works Committee Meeting, 23 January 2001, City of Burnside, pg.26[http://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Council_Minutes_111201.pdf Mayor's report], Minutes of Council Meeting, 11 December 2001, City of Burnside, pg.2
''The official opening of Young Park in Magill took place on 27 November. The creation of this small urban nature reserve was made possible through the generosity of Warren and Bunty Bonython, and matching funds from Council and the State Government Open Space Planning and Development Fund. The park is named after Frank and Phillis Young, the former owners of the nearby Romalo House and parents of Bunty Bonython.

From an early age, Bunty Bonython has had a deep interest and love of history. Her written works include a brief history of Beaumont House,{{Citation | author1=Bonython, Bunty | title=Brief history of Beaumont House | publication-date=1980 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/13108094 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }} and two books about St George's Church Magill, where she has been the honorary historian for many years.{{Citation | author1=Bonython, Bunty | author2=Collings, R | title=Interview with Cynthia Eyres 'Bunty' Bonython | publication-date=1982 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36503879 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}{{Citation | author1=Bonython, Bunty | author2=Hansen, Betty Lorraine, 1936- | title=Interview with Cynthia Eyres 'Bunty' Bonython | publication-date=2000 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36503879 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}

A funeral service for Warren was conducted on 12 April 2012 in St Peters Cathedral.[http://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/obituary.aspx?n=charles-bonython&pid=156857726 Tributes], 5 April 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald

Incomplete list:

• 1953 - The filling and drying of Lake Eyre (with Bruce Mason), Reprinted from the Geographical Journal, Vol. CXIX, Part 3, September 1953.{{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | author2=Mason, Bruce | title=The filling and drying of Lake Eyre | journal=The Geographical Journal | volume=119 | issue=3 | page=321 | publication-date=1953 | publisher=Clowes | location = London | doi=10.2307/1790646 | jstor=1790646 | bibcode=1953GeogJ.119..321B | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34473523 | accessdate=6 April 2012 | url-access=subscription }}
• 1956 - The salt of Lake Eyre, its occurrence in Madigan Gulf and its possible origin. Reprinted from Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, v. 79, May 1956.{{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | title=The salt of Lake Eyre, its occurrence in Madigan Gulf and its possible origin | publication-date=1956 | publisher=Adelaide | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22091626 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }} Second edition, Libraries Board of South Australia, 1965.{{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | title=The salt of Lake Eyre, its occurrence in Madigan Gulf and its possible origin | publication-date=1965 | publisher=Libraries Board of South Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22091626 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}
• 1958 - The influence of salinity upon the rate of natural evaporation, Climatology and micro climatology : proceedings of the Canberra symposium (held October 1956).{{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | work = Climatology and micro climatology : proceedings of the Canberra symposium (held October 1956)

| title=The influence of salinity upon the rate of natural evaporation | publication-date=1958 | publisher=Unesco | location = Paris | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/20056737 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}

• 1966 - Factors determining the rate of solar evaporation in the production of salt. Symposium on Salt (2nd : 1965 : Cleveland){{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | publisher=Northern Ohio Geological Society | work=Symposium on Salt (2nd : 1965 : Cleveland) | title=Factors determining the rate of solar evaporation in the production of salt | publication-date=1966 | location=Cleveland, Ohio | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34583646 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}
• 1971 – Walking the Flinders Ranges. Rigby: Adelaide. (Reprinted in 2000 by the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia). {{ISBN|0-85179-286-3}}
• 1975 – Conservation in Australia. (Illustrated by Douglas Luck). Rigby: Adelaide. {{ISBN|0-85179-785-7}}
• 1976–1981 – I'm no lady: the reminiscences of Constance Jean, Lady Bonython, O.B.E. 1891-1977. (Edited by C. Warren Bonython and issued in progressive chapter-instalments).
• 1980 – Walking the Simpson Desert. Rigby: Adelaide. {{ISBN|0-7270-1173-1}}
• 1987 - [http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/assets/trailwalker/00%20History%20of%20the%20Heysen%20Trail.pdf History of the Heysen Trail], www.heysentrail.asn.au
• 1989 – The Great Filling of Lake Eyre in 1974. (With A. Stewart Fraser). Royal Geographical Society of Australasia: Adelaide. {{ISBN|090911210X}}
• 1998 - Unravelling the secrets of Arkaroo and Curdimurka : the Gammon Ranges and Lake Eyre over the last 50 years. Reprint from the Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, Number 26, 1998.{{Citation | author1=Bonython, C. Warren (Charles Warren) | publisher=Historical Society of South Australia | title=Unravelling the secrets of Arkaroo and Curdimurka : the Gammon Ranges and Lake Eyre over the last 50 years | publication-date=1998 | location=Adelaide | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33468895 | accessdate=6 April 2012 }}

• Bonython is remembered in the naming of the Warren Bonython Link, which joins the eastern and western sections of the Mount Remarkable National Park.[http://www.geodata.us/australia_names_maps/aumaps.php?fid=199597&f=198&name=The%20Warren%20Bonython%20Link Map of The Warren Bonython Link], 32.796100616 S, 138.134124755 E, Geodata.us

• Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park
• Bonython

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;Photos

• [http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/assets/photos/hires/warren%20bonython%20edited.jpg Photo] of C Warren Bonython AO, 1987
• [http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/04/03/1226317/518032-warren-bonython.jpg Warren and Cynthia Bonython], nd
• [http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2012/04/03/1226317/515529-warren-bonython.jpg Warren Bonython and Terry Kreig], 1982. Conservationist walker Warren Bonython with former geology teacher Terry Kreig (member of Eyre Consulative Committee to the Environment Department) during trek around Lake Eyre in 1982.

;Obituaries

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120910100056/http://www.wild.com.au/news/article/vale-warren-bonython Vale Warren Bonython], Simon Blight, Council Member, Friends of the Heysen Trail, 3 April 2012
• [http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Home/Full_newsevents_listing/News_Events_Listing/120403-WarrenBonython Tribute to Warren Bonython], Allan Holmes, Chief Executive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 3 April 2012
• [http://warrenfield.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/vale-c-warren-bonython-1916-2012/ Vale C. Warren Bonython 1916-2012], Warren Field, Australian Geographic, 3 April 2012
• [http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/vale-warren-bonython-heysen-trail-pioneer.htm Vale Warren Bonython - Heysen Trail pioneer], Sylvia O'Regan, Australian Geographic, 4 April 2012

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Category:1916 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:Australian chemical engineers

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:University of Adelaide alumni

Category:Imperial Chemical Industries people

Category:Australian conservationists

Warren

Category:Australian explorers

Category:People from Adelaide