| During the 1880s the Land Commissioners office at Normanton was an
extremely busy place to be. With the pick of the watered plains of the
western country already secured, by 1882 there was quite a scramble to
secure the best of the remaining land that was still available. Having
found suitable land, run seekers were required to apply to secure it with
descriptions of the plot and its exact location. To secure the land the
tenant would need to stock it within a period of a year, obtain a declaration
that he had done so and pay an annual rate. Late payment of rent would
incur additional penalties.
Without a clear, recognised border between the Colony of Queensland
and the Northern Territory of South Australia many people were hesitant
to put stock on the land. Early surveys by three separate parties; Messrs
Jopp, Winnecke and Scarr along the Herbert River (later to be named the
Georgina River) had shown a discrepancy of at least 25 miles between the
most easterly and most westerly line laid down. It so happened that the
debatable country was that which contained the best water, and in some
cases the key to the surrounding country.
As was the case for instance of Mr Richardson who wanted to put 30,000
sheep on the land, but his best and almost only water was on or about the
Herbert where it crossed the disputed lines. Without knowing if the water
was on his blocks he was unwilling to commit to the purchase of the sheep.
The same instances applied to many people.
With lack of money and lack of the instruments needed to carry out an
accurate survey, the decision to confirm the boundary was prolonged.
This unsatisfactory state of affairs was eventually resolved in 1884
when the South Australian Government sent Augustus Poeppel to survey the
border. The work commenced from Poeppels Corner (SA, QLD, NT) in early
1884 and by the end of 1884 some 250 miles had been surveyed when the wet
season set in causing the loss of some camels and equipment. Poeppel lost
the sight of one eye, but carried on until he was replaced by John Carruthers
in July 1885. About 324 miles of boundary had been surveyed at this time.
By November a distance of 517 miles had been covered. Putting up with fires
through the camp and delays when the land became to rough for camels and
having to wait for horses, they finally reached the Gulf on 25th September
1886.
The 650 mile 57 chain (1047 km approx.) long survey cost £9,300
of which half was borne by the Queensland Government, and became the longest
straight surveyed line in Australia. The eastern border of South Australia
is about 290 km longer but there is a 3.5 km step at the Murray River.
Again the eastern border of Western Australia is about 815 km longer but
has not been surveyed in its entirety - a similar situation exists with
the northern border of South Australia.
In view of the nature of the country and the equipment which was limited
to two theodolites, the survey of a straight line of such a great distance
was an incredible effort by the surveyors who undertook it.
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