Knights And Theodolites In The Early Australian West

Early Australian West

If one can ignore the knights, and concentrate on the theodolites, he will find some fascinating bits of Australian history in the 230 pages of a meticulously-compiled book by the late Commonwealth Surveyor- General, Mr. F. M. Johnston.

npO a degree, it is the story of how members of the Johnston family surveyed large areas of West Aus tralia, and Canberra, and New South Wales; and, since the clan began sur veying in West Australia more than a century ago, an account of some in teresting national developments are part of it.

One learns—probably for the first time—of how the large, ambitious town of Australind was planned by the West Australian Company, and laid out near Bunbury (on West Aus tralia’s south-west coast), and aban doned in favour of a site near Geraldton (north of Perth), and abandoned again and re-established at Bunbury; and finally, as the result of political intrigue and considerable mismanagement, how it was cast aside and forgotten.

It appears that a Johnston pro genitor, Marshall W. Clifton, was as sociated with the Australind plan, and that he subsequently had much to do with the foundations of the West Australian State. His daughter married a Johnston, surveyor; their

son was another surveying Johnstoc and his son, in turn, became a di tinguished surveyor and the authr of this book.

Some of these ancestors are trace back to Norman conquest, and til genealogical records in the bo«i bristle with titles, from low knights to high-nosed dukes.

The most fascinating part of til book describes what the KimberM country was like when it was fiii explored and surveyed by the authr and his father. There is also the r© history of the Trans-Continental ras way area and the first surveys Canberra.

One can forgive the author til knights and the family trees and th rather wearisome account of til numerous Clifton-Johnston clan, H cause of the interest and value of til careful description of early settlemea and settlers in the West and Non west. Its claims as a work of ref© : ence are heightened by a name ind»t and a gazeteer.

(Knights And Theodolites.

Saga of Surveyors. Edwards and Shaa 171 Sussex St., Sydney. 30/-.)