Famous NG Surveyor
p. 73 · Read in the full issue
Sudden Death of E. G. Sheldon, Famous NG Surveyor
mHE death occurred very suddenly, from X heart failure, on August 18, of Mr.
E. G. Sheldon, who was for many years an officer of the Department of Lands, New Guinea. He died at his home, Springcliff, via Kuttabul, Mackay, North Queensland, at the age of 61.
To Mr. Sheldon was allotted the task of surveying the wild mountain country between Salamaua and the Morobe gold fields, and locating—if it were possiolo— a route for a road; and to that task, be tween 1926 and 1935, he gave the best years of his life. The early history of the Morobe goldfield, because it is closely associated with the problem of transport, is tied in with the work of Mr. Sheldon.
The achievements of Mr. Sheldon make a remarkable story; and it was told in the “PIM” of October, 1944, by Mrs. Alice Allen Innes. She said there: “Mr. Shel don, the Government Surveyor, was one of the finest bushmen-explorers New Guinea ever has known.”
Just before 1939, decision was taken to build the Salamaua-Wau road, along “Sheldon’s route”; but the war blocked the plan. Later, in qrder to fight the Jap invaders, the AIF built the road in to the goldfields, but by the longer alter native route—Markham, Wampit and Snake Valleys.
Mr. Sheldon leaves a widow and seven children.