Australian Dictionary of Biography

Cecil Godfrey Ryan (1866-1954), mine manager and mining engineer, was born on 30 July 1866 at Brighton, Victoria, third son of Charles Ryan, stock agent, and his wife Marian, eldest daughter of John Cotton. His elder brother (Sir) Charles Snodgrass became a distinguished surgeon and his elder sister Marian Ellis a successful flower painter. Cecil was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School (1879-83) and the University of Melbourne and gained considerable gold-mining experience in Western Australia and New Zealand before moving to Tasmania in 1900 as manager of the Pioneer Tin Mining Co.'s mine at Pioneer (Bradshaw's Creek). On 28 April 1909 at Derby with Presbyterian forms he married Audrey Lyla Colvin Learmonth, niece of the other prominent tin-mine manager of the area, Lindesay Clark.

On the sale of the Pioneer Co.'s leases to the Endurance Tin Mining Co. in 1934, Ryan continued as manager to 1939, although after intermittent illness he had moved to Launceston in 1937. He remained a member of the company board and a consulting engineer until his death.

Ryan was one of the most innovative figures of the north-eastern Tasmanian tin-fields. He was responsible for the introduction of hydro-electric power to the Pioneer mine in 1908; the company generating station built under his direction was later linked to the State hydro-electric grid. His use of the centrifugal-pump and sump method revolutionized local tin-mining and he was also involved in timber-drying experiments. Under his astute management the Pioneer mine paid over £500,000 in dividends.

Ryan was prominent in local affairs and won great respect for his wide-ranging capabilities and sound advice. He was a member of the Ringarooma Municipal Council in 1909-37, paying particular attention to transport and health matters and, during the Depression, unemployment relief. He served as deputy warden for some years and was a justice of the peace and member of the local licensing bench. Prominent in the extension of hydro-electric power to the north-east, in 1934 he was appointed deputy associate commissioner of the Hydro-Electric Commission.

A fairly tall, handsome, benevolent, friendly but quiet man who 'at his most amusing … looked ferocious', Ryan was a prominent member of the Anglican Church and an active sportsman, fisherman and hunter. Well-travelled and cultured, he shared a family interest in the natural world and collected works of art. He was a member of the Launceston and Melbourne clubs, and sometime director of the Australian Mines and Metals Association.

Ryan died of heart disease at Launceston on 22 June 1954 and was cremated. His wife survived him.