Transport
1843 to 1859: Horse and cart the prime mode of transport
Getting to the job and back home again was one of the most important functions the surveyor and his men had to perform. The colonial surveyor of the 1840s used horses for riding and oxen to pull the carts.
By the 1860s, horses alone acted as the prime movers of survey parties but donkeys and camels were often used in western areas.
Due to the paddocks being large, every survey party had a man that acted as the 'horse trailer'. His job was to care for the horses by putting them out at night and placing a bell on the neck of one horse. He would then round them up in the morning. He also did odd jobs around the camp.
1860 to 1880: The fate of the trusty horse
The life of a survey horse was not an easy one. Surveyor Roberts, while working in the rainforest on the Queensland/New South Wales border survey in 1865, reported on the fate of some of his animals:
The losses were of the nature; two of the horses had their necks broken, two got stabbed and died immediately after one had his shoulder put out and consequently maimed for life, and the sixth being unable to stand the work, was turned out and ultimately died. Roberts 1865
Surveyor Watson, while working on the survey of latitude 29 degrees south (Queensland/New South Wales border) in 1880, had to withdraw from the survey due to the lack of water.
I would not recommend the running of the line between here (the Paroo) and the Bulloo – which can only be done at a great outlay - in horses, many of which must succumb to the work. Watson GC 1880
1881 to 1900: Transportation by boat and horse
In the jungles of north Queensland, surveyors often used boats to get to their job. However, due to the nature of the northern rivers difficulties were often encountered. This was experienced by Surveyor Waraker while surveying sugar selections near the Johnstone River in 1882:
Difficulty in getting boat up the rapids, all of us wading in the water and hauling boat after us, pretty jolly day altogether. Waraker 1882
Horses were often in short supply, especially in the government service. Trig surveyor Cochrane explained his problems caused by the lack of a suitable horse in a letter to the Surveyor General:
Sir,
I have the honor to request that I may be allowed to procure a horse, saddle and bridle for use upon the Trig. Survey.
I beg to remind you that I have to be at the various stations at 5.15am in order to get things ready for the early morning observations which commence at day break. For this purpose I have to leave my house at Lutwyche before 4am and walk into town four miles and then a further distance to the trig station then being occupied.
This itself is a considerable distance, but owing to there being only one labourer, I have nearly everyday to walk many miles more placing staves in the various positions, resetting those displaced, or else I am working at the removal of the gear and the re-erection of the woodwork of the observatory.
As we get further afield, the distances will be much increased and very shortly it will be physically impossible to walk to the work distances of six or seven miles and more by that early hour in the morning.
As Mr Hoggan will testify, we are frequently on duty from ten to twelve hours per day, and I would respectfully submit that such long hours of work should not be prefaced by these exhausting walks.
The one horse we have is known to be 22 years of age and has not sufficient strength to do one half the work required of it.
Trusting this request will meet with your approval. Cochrane RM 1890
Surveyor H. Munro with pack mules, State Library of Queensland neg no. 57574 above, and a survey wagon, below, used by surveyor A. H. Burbank, just after the turn of the century Courtesy Mrs H Ward
1921 to 1950: Transportation and the motor vehicle
By the 1920s, surveyors were converting to the motor vehicle to get to the survey camp and beyond. They required petrol, but were not dependant on nature's water and grass.
The horse and cart persisted through to the 1930s, possibly due to the lack of good roads. Image courtesy Mr P Rea
Although modern transport was available, the horse and cart was still relied upon for transport over rugged terrain in 1935.Courtesy Peart collection Surveyors Board
After World War II, the Army presence gave surveyors access to four wheel drive vehicles. This gave them the ability to penetrate remote locations.
1986 to the Present: Reaching inaccessible areas
Past problems of accessing survey camps and sites have been overcome by the use of helicopters. This allows surveyors access into the most rugged and formidable areas.
Last updated: 17 June 2009