Ivor Treharne Birtwistle (1892-1976)

Ivor T. Birtwistle began his illustrious career in newspapers in 1908 as an office boy for the editor of the Western Mail, himself becoming editor of the newspaper in 1924.

His personal collection contains:

• Photographs of himself and from some of his travels
• Books and essays relating to Western Australian history
• Personal letters, writings and ephemera
• Scrapbooks
• Information on local history

After Ivor T. Birtwistle’s death, his personal collection remained at History House Museum until it was transferred to the Birtwistle Local Studies Library when it was opened in 2005.

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Margaret Bettenay's Oral History

Margaret worked closely with Ivor T. Birtwistle in regards to preserving the history of Armadale and the opening of History House Museum.

• Listen to an excerpt of Margaret Bettenay's interview

• Download the whole interview with Geoff Moor and Margaret Bettenay

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The Amazing Life of Ivor T. Birtwistle

Ivor T. Birtwistle was born in Victoria and moved to Perth with his family.

He started his career in newspapers in 1908 when he worked as an office boy for the editor of the Western Mail until 1912.

Ivor T. Birtwistle served in Gallipoli, in Egypt and at the Somme (France) where he was severely shell-shocked on 28 July 1916. Following this he was discharged in Melbourne on 22 June 1917.
An aunt gave him money to travel the Solomon Islands to recuperate.
(Australian Dictionary of Biography)

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Some of Birtwistle’s life achievements include:

1918

• Appointed publicity officer for the national committee of the Y.M.C.A.

1919-1920

• Vice-chairman of Repatriation Board of Victoria and in 1920 promoted the Peace Loan campaign.

1920

• Started work at The West Australian as a police and later political reporter.

1924

• Appointed editor of the Western Mail.

1926

• Became a founding member of the Western Australian Royal Historical Society.

1927

• Became managing editor of West Australian Newspapers Ltd.

1929-37 and 1946-47

• President of the Western Australian Surf Life Saving Association.

1930–40

• Director of Studies in technical  journalism at the University of Western Australia.

1938-50

• President of the state executive of the Western Australian Boy Scouts Association. Vice president and director of Western Australian Y.M.C.A.
• Active member of the Returned Services League and Gallipoli Legion of ANZACS of Western Australia.
• Became involved in local government in Cottesloe where he lived at the time.
• Geoff Moor worked with Ivor T. Birtwistle at the Young Men?s Christian Association (YMCA)

• Download the whole interview with Geoff Moor and Margaret Bettenay

1950

• Became inaugural counsellor of cadet journalists at The West Australian Newspaper.

1952

• Appointed to the Order of the British Empire

1952-57 and 1960-64

• President of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society.
• In the early 1960s, Birtwistle and his wife Katherine Winifred moved to Roleystone.

1964-69

• Became a member of the Armadale-Kelmscott Shire Council.

1976

• History House opened due to Birtwistle’s influence.

(Australian Dictionary of Biography)

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