How good was he?

How Good Was He? By Paul McClelland

Abstract

WCB Wilson was one of Queensland’s early pioneering surveyors. While we have heard of Dixon, Staplyton and Warner, few of us know the exploits of Wilson. In this sesquicentenary of Queensland as a state, I thought it appropriate to add some character to a name that we may only see on a plan. I also explore the accuracy of one of his surveys in terms of ‘following in his footsteps’ when reinstating boundaries created by Wilson almost 150 years ago.

Introduction In January 2009, one of my surveyors sought my advice on the plan presentation of a survey he was examining. During the course of our discussion, plans S3122 (1864) and RP77632 (1952) came to light. The latter plan was a subdivision of Portion 270 created 88 years earlier on S3122. RP77632 showed an original reference tree at each corner of the portion. I thought this would provide an excellent example of the comparison between early survey techniques and technology and more modern measurement and survey equipment. During the course of my research into the plans, I happened to ask Bill Kitson, former curator of the Lands, Mapping and Surveying Museum what he knew of the original surveyor, WCB Wilson. Bill’s response piqued my interest in Surveyor Wilson. Bill said he won the Blue Cross in a war in the Mediterranean before he came to Australia. I thought here was an opportunity to put some history behind a name on a plan to gain an appreciation of one of our pioneering surveyors. Through my research, I have gained a respect for Surveyor Wilson and his accomplishments over a working life that spanned 62 years across two continents. The following is a short history on the life of Surveyor William Charles Borlase Wilson. I complete the history with a comparison of his survey shown on plan S3122 carried out in 1864 with later surveys. Army Life Born on Boxing Day 1807 at Newcastle in England, William Charles Borlase Wilson (Charles) was the eldest of seven children of John and Elizabeth Wilson. John Wilson, born in Kent in 1788 was a Captain of the 60th Rifles and also of the 2nd Regiment (or Queen’s Royals). He had served on the expedition to Walcheren, Netherlands in 1809, the Peninsular Campaign in 1811-1814 in Portugal and later in Canada where he lost his life in 1820. Charles’s father had died at Quebec, Canada possibly during the war against the French. John Wilson was a surveyor in the army hence his son’s interest in studying surveying and cartography while at Sandhurst. Charles’s grandfather, James Wilson was a Lieutenant in the 1st Veteran Battalion. Thus, Charles was born into a military family and it was only natural that he gravitated to the army life. In 1822, at the age of 14 years and 8 months, Charles entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. His height was listed as 4 feet 11.25 inches (1.505 metres) and his father’s occupation was listed as late Captain, 60th Regiment of Foot.

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Charles received a commission in the 51st Foot on December 21 1826, just before his 19th birthday at the recommendation of the College Commander. He eventually left the college in December 1827 at age 20 to join his regiment. He was an Ensign with the 51st from 1827 to 1835, serving with them in Corfu in the Mediterranean during the Greek War of Independence. The Greek War of Independence which began in 1821 ended with the formal recognition by the Ottoman Sultan of the independence of Greece in the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829. Albanians gave significant support to the Greek struggle. Intervention by the Great Powers in the form of Great Britain, France, and Russia was also important to Greek success. The London Convention of May 7, 1832, confirmed an independent Kingdom of Greece (under the protection of Great Britain, France, and Russia) and delimited its boundaries to include the entire Peloponnesus Peninsular and a northern boundary extending from the Gulf of Volos on the Aegean Sea westward to the Gulf of Ambracia. The Greeks honoured Charles Wilson in 1833 at Arta after the retreat of the Turk, Tafil Bougis. Charles was presented with a citation by the citizens of Arta full of praise and rhetoric mentioning his traits of courage and generosity in saving residents of the town during a siege. In 1836, King Othon awarded him the Royal Order of the Croix de Chevalier for his action in 1833 at Arta.

Figure 1 Royal Order of the Croix de Chevalier

Charles served under Colonel George Baker on the international commission for delimitation of the boundaries of Greece. He was fluent in Greek and had become an excellent draftsman and surveyor. A series of letters exist written by Charles in the winter of 1834 to his commanding officer, Colonel Baker. The letters were written from Carpenisi and Argos where he established his billets. The letters tell a story of the harshness of the conditions under which he worked as well as the ill health of both himself and a fellow officer, Captain Dunn. They indicate the difficulty of working with a multi-national team with officers from both France and Russia mentioned. The

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letters also show he was not self sufficient with repeated requests for funds to pay for their billets and living expenses. He also sought support from Colonel Baker for reimbursement of his expenses on his return to his regiment in England. In 1836 he purchased a Lieutenancy in the 69th Foot but moved to the 73rd Foot (The Black Watch) in 1837, serving with them in Gibraltar, Malta and the Ionian Islands until April 1839 when he was de-commissioned from the Army. Charles was 32 when he retired from the Army. Grafton 1839 was an eventful year for Charles. In the same year he married his cousin, Elizabeth Hall and soon after departed for the colony of New South Wales. Shortly after their arrival, he became a father for the first time with the birth of his daughter Elaine at Parramatta.

Figure 3 Elizabeth Wilson Figure 2 William Charles Borlase Wilson

Charles and Elizabeth arrived in Sydney on board the “Lady Raffles”. The newlyweds were accompanied by Charles’s mother and brothers Christopher and George and their families. His other brothers John, Francis and James were already in Australasia. Charles and Christopher, both surveyors in the Army had resigned their commissions to take up surveying positions in New South Wales. Charles was referred to socially as the ‘late Lieutenant of Her Majesty’s 73rd Regiment’. When they arrived in New South Wales, the Surveyor General, Major Thomas Livingstone Mitchell was on

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leave in England receiving his knighthood and his deputy, SA Perry would not take the brothers on as staff surveyors, instead employing them as contract surveyors. In October 1839, Charles was employed by contract to make a survey in full detail of the Clarence River, and accordingly left Sydney in a cutter bound for the ‘Big’ River. Charles reported: “On board the cutter were 10 persons, including 6 prisoners. The latter were so destitute of clothing when they were delivered to me that I was detained in quarantine harbour until Sunday morning, the 29th ultimo, in fitting them out with complete equipment. When off Reid’s Mistake, near Newcastle, a severe storm occurred, and the cutter was taken to Moon Island for refuge, and there she was washed ashore by fearful sea. I have great pleasure in being able to report that the conduct of the assigned prisoners has been worthy of encouragement. Through all our trials they worked for both day and night up to their waists in water, and that, too, without any hopes of reward or remuneration being held out to them, and I have ventured to write a separate letter to His Excellency on their behalf”. Apparently, it was not until June 1840 that Charles and his party arrived in what is now Grafton on the Clarence River. The contract the Wilson brothers accepted was the plotting of natural features of the south side of the river, dividing the country into Parishes and marking out sections of square miles for settlement. A third contract surveyor was also engaged on the survey. Surveyor Major Edward Lewis Burrowes worked on the contract until he was laid off with the Wilson brothers. By 1857, Burrowes had moved to Brisbane where he was a district surveyor in the Survey Office. He applied for the newly created Surveyor General position when Queensland became a state but the position was awarded to AC Gregory. On despatching his plans to Sydney with his account for payment, Charles received a hand written requisition from Major Mitchell which extended to three written pages.

Figure 4 Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell

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Mitchell had returned from his leave to a New South Wales that had enjoyed buoyant years in 1839-1840 during his absence. The tide had turned prior to his return in February 1841 and the colony was sliding into depression. Mitchell had personally suffered criticism from Governor Gipps for his extended absence from the colony. Gipps’s successor, Fitzroy wrote to the Secretary of State: “…it is notorious that Sir Thomas Mitchell’s unfortunate impracticability of temper and spirit of opposition of those in authority over him misled him into frequent collision with my predecessors.” Part of the blame for these clashes with Governors and other senior officials lay with several traits of Mitchell’s character, his arrogance, his independent spirit, his active sense of wrong and his volcanic temper. It was in this environment that Mitchell despatched his requisition to Charles in July 1841. From the tone of some of the comments in the letter, perhaps there was also some jealousy on Sir Thomas Mitchell’s part with having a decorated hero in his employ as a contract surveyor. In the requisition, Mitchell criticised Charles’s choice of parish boundaries, his names for the parishes, the accuracy of his descriptions and the affront of asking for payment on receipt of the instruction. Mitchell’s requisition includes: “I am sorry to have to notice various instances they present of carelessness in the details, and to say which I do with regret that I am not at all satisfied with them. … Your descriptions are also erroneous, some in different respects. Those of (Parish of) Foothill are bound up with the numbers reversed. This evidence of carelessness cannot easily be tolerated in a work performed by contract which should be submitted with such uniformity and precision, as a fixed price entitles the parties to expect, a price sufficient, one would suppose to spare me any further trouble, anxiety or responsibility about it. I beg you will understand that it is my intention to employ only such contract Surveyors as I can depend upon in every particular connected with their business, and that as the detection of even a single error throws doubt on the accuracy of the whole work, such palpable carelessness and blundering throughout the whole work shakes my confidence in the whole of these productions. … I also object altogether to the names you have given to the Parishes: all words on Greek derivation are decidedly objectionable for very obvious reasons: we want no fanciful or far fetched names, and I desire that they may be introduced no more. If you cannot find easy sounding names or others of descriptive or obvious character, you will be pleased to leave a blank for the names, that they may be filled up here, and you can be informed, so that you may be enabled to introduce them on Maps of adjoining lands, and to refer to them in correspondence. … In conclusion I would observe with respect to the urgent application made to the Office by your agents for the payment of your accounts, that an attention to your wishes in this particular would have been best insured by the most fastidious attention to accuracy, and that it is not to be tolerated that a large mass of work should be

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submitted to me in an imperfect state, and payment for it immediately demanded, as if the very labour of investigation were likely to insure payment without further enquiry. Your accounts are returned for any adjustment they may require in consequence of the required alterations.” At the end of 1841, the Government put off the contract surveyors including the Wilsons, having just imported eight staff surveyors. Two of these surveyors were appointed to the Clarence River. They initially sat idle for over five months with six convicts as their assistants. “They were given no proper equipment but one of their excuses for inaction was that they were afraid of the blacks.” Charles, however, was a noted linguist and always maintained good relations with the Aborigines. Charles eventually finished his survey to the satisfaction of the Surveyor General. However, it is reported in Hansard of the New South Wales Legislative Council in December 1843 that the member Mr Windeyer presented a petition ‘…from WCB Wilson, praying an adequate remuneration for the loss he will sustain by the abolition of his contract with the Government, for the survey of the south bank of the Clarence River’. It is assumed that Charles and his brother continued to gain employment as surveyors in the Grafton district, however, whether they received additional government contracts is the subject of speculation. Suffice to say that in the early 1850s, Charles became the Clerk of Petty Sessions in Grafton, being the first to occupy this position. He continued in the position until 1857. During his time in Grafton, Charles and his wife had a further 10 children, the youngest born in 1863 when Charles was aged 56, just prior to his family’s departure for the young colony of Queensland. Queensland From the moment Queensland became a state in its own right, Charles was keen to move his family to the new colony. In 1860, he first applied to the Surveyor General of the new colony of Queensland, Augustus Charles Gregory, for a position with the Survey Office.

“Grafton August 7th 1860. Sir Being desirous of eventually settling with my very large family in the new Colony of Queensland (where I feel assured that a wider and more desirable career lies open to them than in New South Wales) I do myself the honor of soliciting from you employment in your department either as Draughtsman – Surveyor in the field, or in any other official capacity that might be required of me. Without troubling you with the perusal of Certificates of my previous services and qualifications I beg leave to refer to Mr Deputy Surveyor General Burrowes on that

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head, who will I feel assured from his very long and intimate knowledge of me, be able to satisfy you respecting the same.

Trusting to your favourable consideration of this application I have the honor to be,

Sir, Your most obedient servant,

W.C.B.Wilson.”

The Surveyor General responded on 23 August 1860: “Mr Wilson to be informed that although there is not at present any vacancy in which his services are required, it is probable that there will be employment for Licensed Surveyors at the usual scale of fees. A.C.G.” Charles Wilson again wrote to the Surveyor General on October 29 1860. “Sir Having reference to the latter part of your letter of the 31st of August last, I have the honor to request that (as the Land Bill has now passed) you would be so good as to inform me, whether there is any immediate prospect of my obtaining employment in your department as Licensed Surveyor or otherwise,

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most obedient servant W.C.B.Wilson,

Licensed Surveyor.”

Once again the response from the Surveyor General was in the negative. However, in 1862 Charles accepted a contract to survey the original location of the Town of Marlborough in central Queensland. His survey is depicted on plan M211. Due to later flooding, the town was moved to its present position and the location surveyed by Wilson became a holding. In October 1863, having moved his family to Brisbane, Charles again wrote to the Surveyor General from Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill seeking a license to perform surveys under the new Real Property Act 1861. He signed off this letter as Government Licensed Surveyor, New South Wales. The Queensland license was granted on 19 October 1863. Brisbane In early1864, Charles made a number of surveys in and around Brisbane. He surveyed 69 portions at Doolandella depicted on plans S315 (dated 27/02/1864) and S3122 (dated 1/06/1864) and a further 11 portions along the Brisbane River at Seventeen Mile Rocks shown on S3126 (dated 08/07/1864). I will explore the survey on S3122 a little later. Somerset

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In 1863, the Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen proposed a settlement in the far north of the new colony to serve as a refuge for shipwrecked sailors, a supply depot and coaling station to service the major shipping route through Torres Strait. A site was selected on the mainland in the lee of Albany Island and John Jardine, then police magistrate and gold commissioner in Rockhampton was appointed Government Resident and established Somerset. In April 1864, Charles Wilson accepted a contract from the Surveyor General, AC Gregory to survey the Town of Somerset on Cape York Peninsula. The letter of instruction indicated his remuneration would be one pound ten shillings per diem with a further six shillings and six pence per diem for a chainman and five shillings and six pence per diem for a labourer. To be extracted from this pay was the cost of any rations purchased from the government store. He was despatched to Port Albany on the HMS Salamander accompanied by John Jardine, the Police Magistrate to establish the Town of Somerset. With respect to issues outside his brief from the Surveyor General, Charles was to defer to Jardine. He was instructed to survey the streets not less than two chains wide and the town allotments to be one rood, having frontage of one chain to the streets. He was also instructed to carry out a feature survey of the country adjacent to the settlement “as far as the means in your power may admit”. He was instructed to survey suburban allotments of five to ten acres beyond the distance of one mile from the town centre should suitable spots be found. In his first report dated 6 September 1864 he advised that he arrived in Somerset on 2nd August but was unable to commence operations until August 8. He advises he has primarily been engaged in making a detailed survey of the town site in order to run the lines of the streets “to the best advantage”. He goes on to detail his “chief object in the design viz. to make the leading streets on the high land at Point Somerset – and Fly Point in direct and easy communication with the heart of the township”. He describes the soils, topography and vegetation of the town site and surrounding country but has nothing positive to say about the surrounding countryside.

Figure 5 Somerset, Cape York circa 1872

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By letter dated 2nd December 1864 he furnished his second report on the progress of the survey. In the report Charles mentions difficulties with the Aborigines and an attack on his camp on September 13 when two marines were speared. He outlines on another occasion when two of Mr Jardine’s horses were speared and his were stolen. He subsequently recovered his horses a fortnight later. Charles indicates the climate is “salubrious – the heat is not oppressive and the weather surprisingly equable, the thermometer being 84o by day, and 84o at night”. There is a handwritten note in the margin of the report by Governor Bowen wherein he states, “I have read this letter with great interest. I think Mr Wilson should be apprised of the confidence and support of the government and of its entire approval of his conduct under many difficulties – June 9 1865.” In April 1865 Charles provided an excellent 15 page handwritten report entitled “Descriptive Memo respecting the township of Somerset and the Adjacent Country”. This is a well written and thorough professional document providing comment on the site, its geography and its climate. The headings in the margins include:

Selection of the site of the Town of Somerset Evans Bay Muddy Bay and Storm Bay Somerset Bay Tides and Currents Irregularities of the Tides and currents Rise of Tides Somerset Bay Boundaries Somerset Bay Landing Place Geological Formation Metals and Minerals Building Sites Timber Resins Woods Dyeing Trees Common to Queensland Wild Fruit Trees Wild Grape Absence of Trees Common to the rest of Australia Agricultural Capabilities Garden Experiments Failure of Marines Garden Failure of Mr Jardine’s Garden Soil of Township Soil Generally of the District Pastoral Capabilities Unfavourable for the Depasturage of Stock Climate

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Absence of Fevers and other Diseases Temperature Fisheries Trepang Turtle Aborigines Animals

As well as laying out the Town of Somerset, Charles also explored and mapped the local area venturing 22 miles to the south. His survey is depicted on plan S1121, dated 14 March 1865. The plan is described as a survey of sections in the town and “also showing features of town and environs to the Polo Rivulet”. Unfortunately, the land surrounding the settlement was inhospitable and the settlement failed in 1877. However, Jardine’s son Frank who with his brother Alick had driven a herd of cattle from Rockhampton to Somerset arriving in 1865 lived on in the district. He initially replaced his father as Government Resident and later established a cattle station. Accompanying the Jardine brothers on their expedition was surveyor AJ Richardson. The expedition is shown on plan G524 on a number of sheets. The section approaching Somerset shows many of the features surveyed by Wilson. Maryborough In late 1865 Wilson commenced a survey of the Mary River and its tributaries from mouth to source. The plans of the survey indicate he spent the best part of two years carrying out this survey. The surveys are depicted on off-format size plans numbered:

WB3914 14/02/1866 WB3926 31/05/1866 WB3940 05/08/1866 WB3945 08/10/1866 WB3955 15/06/1867 WB3954 20/07/1867 WB3960 20/08/1867

Because of their size, these plans are not available in the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s image system. However, colour images are available on request. I consider these plans are brilliantly drafted when one considers they were most likely hand drawn by Charles Wilson personally. They not only show the river but also the surrounding topography and existing access tracks. By the time he completed this survey, Charles was approaching his 60th birthday. During 1868, he undertook a couple of surveys of portions in the Brisbane River valley up near Esk. Then, in 1869 he moved his family to Mackay where he established a local survey practice. Mackay From 1868 until 1884, Charles continued to undertake contract surveys for the Survey Office in and around Mackay. In August 1869, he purchased 340 acres on the Pioneer River at Woodford (now Pleystowe) for 160 pounds, 9 shillings and 5 pence per acre. He had surveyed Portion 16, Parish of Greenmount in the same year that he purchased

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it. The survey is shown on plan K12464. He owned the land until 1882 when he sold. However, he continued to hold a mortgage over the land. His eldest daughter, Elaine, purchased the adjacent lot to the east, Selection 69 (Portion 15) consisting of 88.75 acres at the same time. However, she only paid 14 pounds 15 shillings, 3 shillings and 4 pence per acre. One wonders at the price differential between Elaine’s and her father’s properties. She later sold the land in 1878. During his time in Mackay he undertook 270 surveys as he aged from 61 to 77. The plan of his final survey was dated 02/12/1884, just before his 77th birthday. In January 1874, Charles wrote to the Surveyor General seeking work on the Endeavour and Palmer Rivers in north Queensland at the height of the gold rush. In his letter he states: “One of the greatest drawbacks the surveyor will have to contend with will be even when paying exorbitant wages, the desertion of his men and the difficulty of replacing them at any price. I should however for the most part be exempt from this difficulty as I could be accompanied by two or three of my sons – young men of great experience who have worked with me in the bush from infancy”. The response from the Surveyor General was; “Inform that a salaried surveyor having been already dispatched to Cooktown there is no present requirement for Mr Wilson’s services in that district but should the surveys increase so as to require another surveyor, this letter will be taken into consideration”. In September 1881 Charles again wrote to the Surveyor General along the following lines: “Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memo declining to give me any further employment as a Licensed Surveyor. In your previous letter of September 23 last you were however pleased to state as follows; “In reference to withdrawal from you of instructions for surveys in the Mackay District pending the examination of your work in the field – having received the reports of Mr Staff Surveyor O’Connell I approve of your being reinstated as a Licensed Surveyor of the Department.

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your obedient servant W Alcock Tully

Surveyor General” Upon receipt of this letter I reasonably supposed that being reinstated I was placed in my original position as surveyor; and that a similar notification addressed to the Commissioner would have enabled him to have given me some share of the surveys required in the District - but in your last memo before alluded to you state; “It is no imputation or slur on your ability professionally, but it is not to be supposed that a man of your age should or could undertake the onerous work of a Field Surveyor” –

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My services have certainly been long and arduous, extending over very many years – during which time much danger and hardship had to be encountered – It is true that I am consequently advanced in years, but as I am notwithstanding quite as capable of taking the Field as many younger men, I cannot but hope that you will not upon serious reconsideration deprive me of the means of obtaining my livelihood. I have the honor etc WCBW” Surveyor General Tully responded on 16 December 1881 with: “I adhere to my previous decision – I was led to replace Mr Wilson’s name in the list of surveyors on his representations that he did not require work – and I was desirous of placing an old officer in a position which would free him from any reflection on his professional reputation – I have done what I promised to do and Mr Wilson cannot expect me to do any more.” It would appear that Surveyor Wilson had reached the status of Emeritus Surveyor, at least in the Surveyor General’s opinion. He only completed a further four surveys after this letter. While in Mackay, Wilson continued to name places after Greek names. One example was Kalamia Creek near Ayr, Kalamia being a Greek word meaning place of reeds. He named the creek in 1877. It was from this name that Kalamia Mill and later Kalamia State School got their names. Charles is mentioned in the historical section of the Kalamia State School’s web site. Charles Wilson died four months after his final survey on 6 March 1885 at age 78 and is buried in Waverly Cemetery in Sydney. His wife, Elizabeth passed away in Brisbane on March 9 1902 and is buried beside her husband. S3122 Plan S3122 is an early example of Charles’ work in Queensland. The survey was dated 1 June 1864. It is a survey of portions 260-293 in the Parish of Oxley, the majority of the portions are to the east of Blunder Road, Doolandella, cross Blunder Creek to Oxley Creek further east. The plan, drawn by Charles is a cartographic masterpiece notwithstanding it has suffered through the tyranny of time and regular use. The plan is like a colour lithograph showing drainage patterns and vegetation as well as the surveyed portion boundaries and reference trees. The survey was conducted in early 1864. At the time the directions to surveyors required brands on trees and pegs to be in Roman numerals. The Corner Reference table on the plan shows some significant branding of portion numbers on the reference trees e.g. CCLXX, CCLXXI.

Staff surveyors at the time were issued with both theodolite and circumferenter however it is considered contract surveyors may only have had access to circumferenter for their surveys. The circumferenter was a magnetic compass with an alidade. Its accuracy was subject to daily, annual and lunar variations in the earth's

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magnetic field, solar magnetic storms, local attractions and static electricity in the compass glass.

Measurements were effected with the Gunter’s chain. These were chains made of metal of one hundred individual links, the total being 66 feet long. With constant use, there was significant wear and tear which caused the tape to stretch. An error of one link (7.92 inches) in 3 to 5 chains was considered normal.

Figure 7 Gunter’s Chain

Figure 6 Circumferenter

Survey procedures were often less than precise. If a tree blocked a line of sight, a surveyor might sight to the trunk, walk around it and approximate the continuing line. Topography also played a role in the accuracy of surveys. Measurements made along flat terrain were more accurate than those over slopes.

This was the technology and practices with which Charles conducted his survey shown on plan S3122. The topography was variable ranging from creek flats to steeper slopes on the ridges dividing the watersheds.

In his report to the Surveyor General, Wilson describes his survey as “34 farms – on and near Oxley and Blunder Creeks”. He describes the soils, vegetation and topography of the land covered by the survey. He indicates he “connected my work to previous surveys by tie lines viz Portion 260 with 50 and 52. Number 264 with 280 – Number 276 with Number 13 of the Parish of Yeerongpilly and 293 with 101 of the same Parish.

I found the survey of Number 51 incomplete and incorrect – The southern boundary having been extended to 20 chains instead of being 17 thus making that Portion 20 instead of 17 acres and the eastern boundary not marked – I have however put a picket and marked a corner tree at the 17 chains as there is a corresponding tree at that distance on the northern boundary.”

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In 1952, 88 years after Wilson completed his survey, Arnot Jorgensen subdivided Portion 270 as shown on RP77632. At each external corner of the portion, he found an original reference tree from Wilson’s survey. This allows us to compare the survey of Wilson from 1864 with a survey with relatively modern technology – theodolite and five chain steel band. Jorgensen’s survey adopts the Blunder Road boundary as his datum for meridian. The following table shows the differences between the two surveys.

Boundary S3122 RP77632 Difference 1

Western 0o 1600 0o 1607.75 +7.75

2 Northern 90o 2500 90o06’30” 2514.6 +6’30” +14.6 3 Eastern

180o 1600 180o04’15” 1610.5 +4’30” +10.25

4 Southern 270o 2500 270o09’55” 2512.6 +9’55” +12.6 This represents chainage differences of 1 link in 200 on the western boundary, 1 link in 170 on the north boundary, 1 link in 150 on the east boundary and 1 link in 200 on the south boundary. More recently in 1990, RP805124 measures the street frontage of Portion 271 to an original reference tree at Blunder Creek. This survey probably used total station technology. The difference recorded is +15.59 links in 3110 or 1 link in 200. As a general statement, one could argue that later surveys are measuring 1 link in 2 chains greater that Wilson however this is not consistent. So the value of proportioning to determine intermediate corners is diminished because the presumption of a consistent scale factor difference may not apply in this case. All reinstatement evidence needs to be considered before proportioning is adopted as a means of reinstating intermediate corners between two fixed corners. Also of note are the meridian differences up to 10 minutes. Note the individual angles are different by 6’ 30”, 2’ 15”, 5’ 40” and 9’ 55”. This would be consistent with original bearing and angle observations by circumferenter. On later surveys around Mackay, similar differences were noted over Charles’s measurements. This by no means diminishes the quality of the surveys by Charles when you consider the technology, vegetation, topography and methods under which his surveys were carried out. Charles drew his own survey plans and his field notes were written in ink. They too are classic examples of survey records. In late November 2009, with two of my surveyors, we drove out to the Blunder in our air conditioned vehicle with our hand held GPS to pay homage to Wilson at the gum tree down on Blunder Creek in Portion 271 that he referenced in 1864, 145 years ago. It was unfortunate that we had to get out of the vehicle and walk the last 500 metres in the 35 degree heat. On previous surveys it is described as ORT Dead. That is an apt description for all that remains of the tree. But it is still a reminder of those pioneering

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surveyors who went before us and of the real hardships they faced apart from the technical difficulty of surveying in the 1800s.

Figure 8 Wilson’s Tree, Station f, S3122

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Conclusion It can be seen from this potted history of the life of William Charles Borlase Wilson that he lived a full and robust life. He worked in the surveying profession from the age of 15 until he retired at age 78, a professional career that spanned 63 years across two continents. He was a true pioneering surveyor of both New South Wales and Queensland having arrived in New South Wales in 1839 and in Queensland in 1862. During his career he dealt with a number of Surveyors General in both New South Wales and Queensland. His contemporaries were Sir Thomas Mitchell, Sir Augustus Charles Gregory, Major Burrowes and William Alcock Tully. His career in Queensland covers the length of the state, an achievement not many of his current peers could claim as well. He was a great family man having sired ten children. However, he was also aware of his obligations with respect to his extended family having arrived in Australia with his mother and younger brother, his older brothers already being in residence. From his early training in surveying, he became a noted cartographer as well as field surveyor. He was a good linguist, fluent in Greek and able to communicate with many Aborigines. He named many places during his career, drawing his inspiration from his experiences in the army. Many place names are associated with his commanding officers or after Greek places, a habit which infuriated Major Sir Thomas Mitchell. When you look at the results of his survey shown on S3122 compared with later surveys, you may think that the quality of his work was not acceptable but when you take into account the conditions under which he worked, the equipment and instruments he had at his disposal, the topography and vegetation he had to work through, it is my opinion he did an exceptional job. In a recent article in the BGGS News from the Dean of School he says, “If we can live with openness to the processes of our past, then we can also live with greater openness to the opportunities and richness of our present and to the limitless possibilities of our future.” This particularly applies to cadastral surveying in that if we do not understand and remember the past practices of surveyors and the limitations and hardships they worked under, then we have limited our scope to truly follow in their footsteps. During my surveying career, I have found that you develop a respect for our pioneering surveyors in working over their surveys and gaining a first hand appreciation of the conditions in which they worked without all the luxuries and benefits that we currently have at our disposal. So Charles Wilson, how good was he? In my humble opinion, bloody good! Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge Kaye Nardella, curator of the Museum of Lands, Mapping and Survey for making the museum’s files available to me for research for

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this project. I would also like to acknowledge Bill Kitson, the former curator who piqued my interest in Charles Wilson which led to my own research of his history. I would also like to thank my fellow surveyors, Clinton Elvery and Hugh Smith for their assistance and enthusiasm for the project. Paul McClelland Cadastral Surveyor November 2009

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References Bedwell, EP, (1872) Watercolour, Somerset, Cape York, Queensland, National Library of Australia. Retrieved November 24 2009 http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an5813421 Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (2002), Catalogue of the papers of Colonel George and Mrs. Caroline Julia Baker, 1809-57. Retrieved 27 April 2009 http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/1500-1900/baker/baker000.html Byerley, Frederick J, (1868) Narrative of the Overland Expedition by F and A Jardine, 1867. Retrieved November 12 2009 http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00026.html Changing Chains (1986), Article taken from "Backsights" Magazine published by Surveyors Historical Society. Retrieved November 17 2009 http://www.surveyhistory.org/changing_chains.htm Dale, A, (2009), Remembrance of Things Past, BGGS News 13/11/2009, Volume 28 Issue 34 Foster, William C, (1985) Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell and His World 1792-1855, ISA NSW 1985 The History of Kalamia State School (2006), Retrieved April 23 2009 http://www.kalamiass.eq.edu.au/index.php?page=17&section=7 Vote and Proceedings of the NSW Legislative Council 1843. Retrieved 27 April 2009 http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/hhp/pre1991/votes/1824_1881/1843-X-LC-XX-PROCEEDINGS-0000-0256.pdf Walcheren Campaign, Retrieved November 22 2009 http://e.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walcheren_Campaign Wilson, W (1995) My European Ancestors, Australian Pioneers, Unpublished Family History, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Brisbane WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Carpenisi Greece, 27 October 1834, Bodleian Library Doctor Lehley Medical Report on WCB Wilson and Captain Dunne to Colonel George Baker Kallidromi Greece, 3 November 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Argos Greece, 1 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Argos Greece, 4 December 1834, Bodleian Library

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http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an5813421

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/1500-1900/baker/baker000.html

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/1500-1900/baker/baker000.html

http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00026.html

http://www.surveyhistory.org/changing_chains.htm

http://www.kalamiass.eq.edu.au/index.php?page=17&section=7

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/hhp/pre1991/votes/1824_1881/1843-X-LC-XX-PROCEEDINGS-0000-0256.pdf

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/hhp/pre1991/votes/1824_1881/1843-X-LC-XX-PROCEEDINGS-0000-0256.pdf

http://e.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walcheren_Campaign

WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Argos Greece, 14 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Argos Greece, 18 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Argos Greece, 22 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Napoli de Romania Greece, 25 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Napoli de Romania Greece, 29 December 1834, Bodleian Library WCB Wilson Letter to Colonel George Baker Nauslia Greece, 2 February 1836, Bodleian Library Colonel George Baker Letter to WCB Wilson Nauslia Greece, 3 February 1836, Bodleian Library NSW Surveyor-General to WCB Wilson 15 July 1841 Survey Requisition, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Brisbane WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 7 August 1860 Correspondence seeking employment, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Brisbane Qld Surveyor-General to WCB Wilson 23 August 1860 Correspondence refusing employment, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Brisbane WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 29 October 1860 Correspondence seeking employment, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Brisbane WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 19 October 1863 Correspondence seeking licence to practice under the Real Property Act, Qld State Archive WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 1 June 1864 Survey Report of 34 farms on and near Oxley and Blunder Creeks, Qld State Archive Qld Surveyor-General to WCB Wilson 28 April 1864 Survey Instruction Town of Somerset, Qld State Archive WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 6 September 1864 Interim Survey Report No 1 Town of Somerset, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 2 December 1864 Interim Survey Report No2 Town of Somerset, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying WCB Wilson Descriptive Memo respecting the Township of Somerset and the Adjacent Country 18 April 1865, Qld State Archive

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WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 30 January 1874 Correspondence requesting survey work on the Endeavour and Palmer Rivers, Qld State Archive Qld Surveyor-General to WCB Wilson 27 February 1874 Correspondence refusing survey contract work, Qld State Archive WCB Wilson to Qld Surveyor-General 6 September 1881 Correspondence requesting survey contract work, Qld State Archive Qld Surveyor-General to WCB Wilson 16 December 1881 Correspondence refusing survey contract work, Qld State Archive

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