Industry and Manufacturing, Published 10 August 2026
Did you know one of the world's most important power tools traces its origins to an Australian invention?
When people think of Australian inventions, the Hills Hoist, the black box flight recorder or Wi-Fi often come to mind. But here's one that rarely gets the recognition it deserves.
On 20 August 1889, engineers Arthur James Arnot and William Blanch Brain, working in Melbourne, patented what is widely recognised as the world's first electric drill. Designed for drilling into rock in mines and coal shafts, it was a large industrial machine - very different from the portable drills we use today.
Before then, mining relied largely on manual methods or steam and compressed air-powered rock drills. Arnot and Brain's invention applied electric motor technology to rock drilling, marking an important milestone in the evolution of powered drilling equipment.
Their drill was built for heavy industrial use, not for workshops or home DIY projects. Just six years later, in 1895, German inventors Wilhelm Fein and Carl Fein developed the first portable electric hand drill, helping pave the way for the compact electric drills we know today.
Today, electric drills are used on construction sites, in workshops, in mines and in homes around the world. While the modern drill evolved through many innovations over the decades, its story can be traced back to an Australian invention patented in Melbourne more than 136 years ago.
It's another fascinating reminder that Australian ingenuity has made a lasting contribution to engineering and everyday life around the world.
What's the oldest electric drill you've ever owned or used? Let us know in the comments!
Arthur James Arnot photo & Electric drill diagram held by the Victoria Library - Public Domain.
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