Robert Ballard

author

Robert Ballard

1839–1912

An English-born engineer who helped shape Queensland's early railways, he also wrote a curious and ambitious book on the pyramids. His life blended practical public works with a strong streak of Victorian-era speculation and inquiry.

1 Audiobook

The Solution of the Pyramid Problem; or, Pyramid Discoveries With a New Theory as to their Ancient Use

The Solution of the Pyramid Problem; or, Pyramid Discoveries With a New Theory as to their Ancient Use

by Robert Ballard

About the author

Born in Herefordshire, England, in 1839, Robert Ballard trained as a civil engineer in Britain and Europe before building a career in railway work. He later moved to Australia, where he became associated with major railway projects in Queensland during the colony's early development.

Ballard is best remembered in Australian biographical sources as a railway engineer, especially for his work on lines in southern and western Queensland. He also entered public life, serving in the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the seat of Normanby in the 1880s.

Alongside his engineering career, he wrote The Solution of the Pyramid Problem, a book that shows his fascination with big historical and scientific questions. He died in 1912, leaving behind a life that joined hands-on engineering, politics, and a notably curious mind.