When George Emanuel Davison died in 1983, at age 94, he was the oldest Registered Surveyor in New South Wales. He was born in 1889 at Arncliffe. He joined the NSW Lands Department in 1908 as a cadet surveyor and then served articles with Surveyors Alcock and Harnett and qualified (certificate 1222) on 14 April 1914. He rejoined the Lands Department and worked with them until March 1950. He then continued to work as a freelance surveyor doing his last work in Kangaroo Valley on behalf of the Sydney Bush Walking Club when he was 88 years old.

He purchased these surveyor's tools initially in the late 1920s, acquiring more throughout his life at a surveyor, and he used them for his whole career. The tools are not remarkable in their own right being standard instruments of the time but it they are part of collection of surveying equipment and an archive of papers and photographs that illustrate the working life of a surveyor in the first half of the 19th century

During his time in the field with the Lands Department George Davison usually lived under canvas and travelled by horseback. He would be away for months and sometimes his wife would accompany him. There are photographs showing the camp and George and his wife's tent including her personal effects.

George worked in many areas of New South Wales including the areas around Hay and Wagga Wagga, The Snowy Mountains, Armidale, Grafton, Forbes and Condoblin. His topographic work done in the Snowy Mountains was commended at the opening of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. SMHEA engineers were very impressed at the accuracy of the maps produced from his measurements which were done without the aid of stereometric equipment and aeroplanes.

The significance of this equipment lies primarily in its being a collection of tools and associated ephemera which provide a wonderful illustration of George Davison and the working life of a surveyor at the time of his career.

Damian McDonald
October 2007

Surveying tools (46), with box, metal / plastic / wood / fabric / paper / glass, makers unknown, used by surveyor George Davison, Australia, 1920-1977

Brass rule
Chamfered brass rectangle with two rollers extending through to the ruler to the resting surface such that the ruler can be moved on a flat surface to draw parallel lines. The axle for the wheels/rollers is mounted on the upper surface of the ruler. Also mounted on the top surface are two knurled knobs for the user to push the ruler into place. No markings. Three countersunk brass screws missing.

L =387 mm B=65mm H=10mm

Tomahawk
Well used timber handle and steel head. Hammer end is particularly well used ( for hammering in tent pegs and survey stakes) Nails are hammered into the handle at the head end to holds the head on.

L = 380 W= 140 (head)

Canvas bag, faded yellow, with metal buckles. The bag is well worn and has many stains. It has a shoulder strap, and is worn across the torso, so the bag is accessible at hip-height. The bag could have been purchased in the late 1970s or early 1980s and is a type that was commonly found in military surplus stores at that time.

Set squares
Two wooden set squares with finger holes
The larger of the two is marked Stanley London and is truncated at the most acute point. I edge has " 1 in 6" written on it.
W = 80mm H = 154mm

The smaller square has "1 in 4" written on it. It also has the initials ORR hand written in pencil on it (ORR is the district surveyor)
W = 60 L = 105mm

Wire Pegs
2 wire pegs, 1 of fence wire, the other of thicker steel wire, both sharpened and with a piece of red ribbon tied onto them - probably used at Coolanga

Large one 280mm
Small one 250mm

Cards (30)
Buff and red coloured cards 100 x 65

Plumb bob
Brass plumb bob on a very old string. The bob is 95 mm high and the string is 700mm long

Rulers (5)

Magnifying glasses (2)

Box of pens, compass, razor blades, small pen knife, box of pen nibs, paper blotter, sealing wax, stamp, plastic packet of brass paper clips.

Box in which all the objects are contained: the box is faded brown in colour, and is made from thick cardboard of the type that was commonly used for light suit-cases. There are marks where a handle or buckles have been removed from the front.

Various makers, made between 1920 and 1977.

George Emanuel Davison, New South Wales surveyor, used these tools while in the field from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Gift Mrs Jane Gray, 2008

2008/9/6

1920

140 mm

410 mm