Edward Hope Kirkby (31 December 1853 – 28 July 1915) was a jeweler watchmaker in Williamstown, Victoria who eventually became a manufacturing electrician making systems of fire protection.
His later interest in fire protection may have occurred when he witnessed the burning down of the Beehive building, home of the Bendigo stock exchange.
In the early 1880s he studied electricity and magnetism at the Bendigo school of mines, winning awards and later presenting papers on the subject.
In 1901 he moved from Williamstown to the city, operating as a manufacturing electrician making his systems of fire protection and X-ray apparatus, all the while pursuing his interest in wireless telegraphy.
Dissatisfied with their performance, he moved to Sydney NSW with two of his sons, setting up business in the city manufacturing X-ray and medical apparatus.
Looking for a place to manufacture his systems of fire protection, he approached his friend Father Archibald Shaw, a Catholic priest in the Order of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the assistant procurator to Father Guis at the orders house in “Ascot” in Dutruc St Randwick to build a factory on land owned by them.
Edward Hope Kirkby was a jeweler watchmaker in Williamstown who eventually became a manufacturing electrician making systems of fire protection, in 1908 he invented and patented the first automatic sprinkler alarm.
In the darkened room, Mr. Kirkby, who erected the apparatus to the order of Mrs. Clark, showed the visitors the wonders of the high frequency system by which the electric fluid permeates the whole body appearing in jets at all points from the head to the toe of the boot.
In February 1905, at a meeting of the Accountants and Clerks' Association in Melbourne, it was reported: "After the completion of other routine business, Mr. E. H. Kirkby, electrician, was introduced, and delivered a lecture on Some of the Latest Phases of Electrical Science, illustrated by experiments, which included wireless telegraphy, X-rays and other wonders of this science, which were highly appreciated by all present.
Kirkby participated as an operator of one of the two wireless stations established by Australian land military forces at their annual Easter encampment.
The experiment was widely reported (with apologies for the language of the day): "The present Heathcote camp may be an historical one, since it has witnessed the first recorded successful use of a wireless telegraph installation in the Commonwealth under military conditions.
G. A. Taylor, A.I.C., to make the arrangements in conjunction with Captain Cox-Taylor, of the Garrison Artillery, who watched the experiment closely, and interestedly with a view to the possible future military development of wireless telegraphy in the Commonwealth.
Conditions which would most probably be met with on active service were scrupulously observed by those in charge of the operating stations; indeed, in the determination to impart the utmost realism to the undertaking discomforts innumerable were cheerfully faced by the corps.
The latter position was of very great interest, inasmuch as on the rocks flanking the cave some queer aboriginal carvings and a deep V cut in a sandstone, used evidently by ancient black warriors to sharpen their implements of war, were discovered.
"[11] Still promoting the patriotic benefits of wireless, in July 1910, Kirkby and Taylor lectured and demonstrated wireless at a meeting of the United Service Institution in Sydney: "Some very interesting experiments were shown last evening by Lieutenant G. A. Taylor and Mr. Kirkby, whose apparatus was commended by Dr. Bell as the equal of any in the world.
At the conclusion of a lecture by the former a button was pressed, and by means of wireless a flag was run up, a breeze set blowing, a gun fired, and a gramophone played God Save the King.