Too much or too little water
1861 to 1880: Difficulties encountered during floods
In the rainforests of tropical north Queensland, the surveyor and his men worked under extremely difficult conditions. The rain (up to 300 inches annually), made it almost impossible to work during the wet season (November to March).
In 1872, surveyor George Phillips carried out selection surveys on the Herbert River. He outlined in a report to the Surveyor General, A.C. Gregory, a list of problems that made it impossible to work in the area during the wet:
There are many things up here that make surveying work unpleasant, but I have sought in this report to confine myself strictly to that which makes it impossible.
On reaching the open country, found it all under water ... waded the whole way seldom lower than the middle of the thigh, often to the arm pits – had to make many detours to avoid swimming.
... Apart from the unpleasantness of wading, this water so deep it is far from safe from the alligators [crocodiles] which are numerous avail themselves of the flooded state of the country ... I find that men cannot stand the constant exposure to wet they have to endure while working at this time of the year in the vicinity of the Herbert River.
Started the day with one man, the rest down with fever.
... I cannot accomplish the impossible. Phillips G 1872
In a later report, Phillips reports on the death of a number of his chainmen:
I have had to sign for the man John Garside as the poor fellow died today from the usual low fever of these parts, after a short illness, this making the second man that has died in my camp within the last month. I may state that I cannot expect to do any work on the Herbert for some time yet, as it is merely throwing away men's lives to attempt it. The registered rainfall on the Herbert and at Cardwell for the month of January last was 37 inches.
Difficulties experienced with excess rainfall were not limited to the north of the colony. Francis Edward Roberts while surveying the Queensland/New South Wales border on the McPherson Range to the west of Tweed Heads, reported on the wear and tear on his equipment.
Then again from the nearly constant rain and moisture of these lofty and scrubby ranges, varying from 3000 to 5000 feet above the level of the sea, which were almost constantly capped with clouds. There was considerable wear and tear in my tents and packsaddles.
The McPherson Range section of the border survey was carried out between 27 April, 1863 and 1 May, 1865. During this time, 282 days were spent surveying. This meant that 145 days were lost to wet weather.
1881 to 1900: Coping with little water rations
As most of the Australian continent is affected by long periods of drought, the availability of water to a surveyor and his team would be a matter of life and death.
While surveying the Queensland/New South Wales border in 1880, John Cameron ended up sharing his remaining water with his horses:
At the 235 mile post, we nearly lost all our horses in one night (32) owing to the team-master and blackfellow being unable to find the waterhole ... Having 100 gallons of water in camp, I divided 50 gallons among the 32 horses with a little oatmeal which enabled them to travel to Warri Warri Creek ... I was obliged to give the horses a week's spell to recruit their strength. Cameron J 1880
It was not uncommon for early surveyors in Australia to rely on local Aboriginal people to guide them to water.
In times of extreme drought, surveyors had to postpone surveys in the affected areas for many years. This was because they were unable to provide enough water for their horses which they relied heavily upon. If they did work in drought affected areas, then a man's water would be rationed.
In 1886, surveyor Bedford allowed:
one pint per man each morning and evening was the allowance for washing, and whenever it became exceptionally hot weather and thereby more than the usual quantity being used for drinking.
I am afraid we often sacrificed cleanliness to thirstiness, and satisfied the needs of the inner man rather than the outer.
Water was often obtained by sinking a cask in the sandy bed of the river.Royal Geographical Society of Queensland 1886-87
Too much or too little water presented the survey party with many problems. When there was too much water, the party had difficulty moving camp, as Cameron reported in 1880:
Had great difficulty in crossing creeks with the whole camp. The Irarah, Cuttaburra and Warrego being flooded. Irarah, being one mile wide and Warrego 20 chains wide, I had to construct two boats, one of planks and another of canvas and frame, the latter being the most useful; ferried eight tons with this boat in one afternoon including instruments.Cameron J 1880
1901 to 1920:A recipe for extracting drinkable water
When working on the Moonie River in 1913, Harold Leahy purified his 'extra thick and undrinkable water' by following the recipe:
by mixing half a packet of Epsom salts and put in the kerosene bucket of water. Leave for some hours and then take off clear water carefully so as not to disturb the inch or so of sediment at the bottom, then boil the water for some time and skim off the green scum. It is then quite fit for use. Leahy HP 1913
Once the Artesian Basin was tapped by the sinking of bores, surveyors were able to make use of the supplied running water to their front door for the men and animals.
The photo above is of surveyor H. Leahy's survey camp next to a bore drain Courtesy Mr P Leahy, about 100 miles south of Mitchell in the 1920s. The bore water arrived at the surface at a constant temperature of 180° F.
Leahy also used his car lights to illuminate his tent at night.
1921 to 1950: Finding water
Surveyor E. L. Peart's chainman drawing water from a creek bed in the late 1940s Courtesy Peart collection Surveyors Board
Last updated: 17 June 2009