Charles Warren Bonython AO (born 11 September 1916) is an Australian conservationist, explorer, author and chemical engineer

Chemical engineer

In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...

. A keen bushwalker, he is perhaps best known for his role, spanning many years, working towards the promotion, planning and eventual creation of the Heysen Trail

Heysen Trail

The Heysen Trail is a long distance walking trail in South Australia. It runs from Parachilna Gorge, in the Flinders Ranges via the Adelaide Hills to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and is approximately 1200 km in length....

. His work in conservation has been across a range of issues, but especially those connected with South Australian arid landscapes.

Family

• Born into the "Old Adelaide Family" Bonython
  Bonython
  -People:* Blanche Ada Bonython, née Blanche Ada Bray , first wife of Lavington Bonython* Charles Bonython , Member of Parliament for Westminster...
  
  
• Grandfather: John Langdon Bonython
  John Langdon Bonython
  -Early life:Bonython was born in London in 1848, the second son of George Langdon Bonython and Annie MacBain. The family migrated to South Australia in July 1854. There, Bonython was educated at the Brougham School in North Adelaide...
  
  
• Father: John Lavington Bonython
  John Lavington Bonython
  Sir John Lavington Bonython was a prominent public figure in Adelaide, known for his work in journalism, business and politics. In association with his father, he became involved in the management of newspapers including The Advertiser; he also served as editor of The Saturday Express and as a...
  
  
• Mother: Constance Jean Warren, Lady Bonython
• Siblings: 2 brothers and 3 sisters - see John Lavington Bonython#Family
• Wife: Cynthia (Bunty)
• Lived in Melbourne in the 1940s - first child born
• Three children

Personal

• owned the first MG sports car in South Australia
• set the speed record on Sellicks Beach
• The first person to have made many significant walks - e.g.
  • across the Simpson Desert (x,000km)
  • etc.
• Has climbed many mountains - e.g.
  • Kilimanjaro at age 75
  • etc.

Summary

• Born Adelaide, 11 September 1916.
• Educated University of Adelaide (BSc).
• ICI Australia Ltd 1940-66, including research and management in the solar salt industry
  • 20 years as manager of the salt fields at Dry Creek
• President, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia South Australian Branch 1959-61
• South Australian Chairman, Water Research Foundation of Australia 1961-76
• Foundation Committee Member, Australian Solar Energy Society 1962
• Colombo Plan Adviser on salt to the Ceylon government 1964
• Member of the first executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation 1965-73.
• 1966 - "Retired from industry" aged 50 years
• 1967-1968 - His first long walk in the Flinders Ranges
• Director, Dampier Salt
  Dampier Salt
  Dampier Salt is an Australian salt company located in Western Australia, with operations in Dampier, Port Hedland, and Lake MacLeod, with headquarters in Perth...
  
   Ltd 1968-79.
• President, Conservation Council of South Australia 1971-75
• President, National Trust of South Australia 1971-76
• Member of the Australian Heritage Commission 1976-91
• Chairman, Evaluation Panel for Natural Areas in South Australia, Australian Heritage Commission 1977-91
• He was a member of the Uranium Advisory Council 1978-83
• Officer of the Order of Australia
  Order of Australia
  The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
  
   1980, in recognition of service to conservation
• President, Royal Society of South Australia 1980-81
• 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
• President, Scientific Expedition Group 1984-?
• President, Council of the National Parks Foundation of South Australia 1985-89
• Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year 1990

Publications

• "Walking the Flinders Ranges", Adelaide: Rigby, 1971. (Reprinted 2000, Royal Geographical Society of South Australia)
• "Conservation in Australia", text by C. Warren Bonython, illustrated by Douglas Luck, Adelaide: Rigby, 1975.
• "Walking the Simpson Desert", Adelaide: Rigby, 1980.
• "I'm no lady : the reminiscences of Constance Jean, Lady Bonython, O.B.E. 1891-1977", edited by C. Warren Bonython, Issued in progressive chapter-instalments 1976-1981.
• "The Great Filling of Lake Eyre in 1974" (co-editor 1989)
• History of the Heysen Trail by C. Warren Bonython, www.heysentrail.asn.au

Things named after him

• The "Warren Bonython Link" joining the eastern and western sections of the Mount Remarkable National Park
  Mount Remarkable National Park
  Mount Remarkable is a national park in South Australia , 238 km north of Adelaide.Edward John Eyre named Mount Remarkable in June 1840...
  
  .

External links

• Photo of C Warren Bonython AO, 1987
• "Biography of C Warren Bonython AO (Patron of the Friends of the Heysen Trail)" by Jo Chesher, Trailwalker, Winter 2007, pp.18-20