Robert Dixon (explorer)
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Robert Dixon | |
|---|---|
 Robert Dixon | |
| Born | 1800 Cockfield, County Durham, England |
| Died | 8 April 1858 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation | Surveyor |
| Spouse | Margaret Sibly |
| Children | 6 (Langford Dangar, Joel and Jerome)[1] |
| Parent(s) | James and Elizabeth |
Robert Harald Lindsay Dixon (1800–1858) was an Australian surveyor and explorer, born in Cockfield, County Durham,[2] England.[3] Dixon is credited with having first surveyed and named a number of areas along the East Coast of Australia.
In 1831–32 Dixon carried out surveys in the Upper Hunter and New England districts.[4][5]
Having failed to gain reinstatement, Dixon moved to Moreton Bay. During that year, Dixon, with assistant surveyors Granville Stapylton and James Warner, began a trigonometrical survey of Moreton Bay for the Government to facilitate free settlement.[6] A baseline of 3 miles (4.8 km) was measured on Normanby Plains (today's Harrisville, south of Ipswich) as a foundation for the triangulation. Dixon was instructed to compile a plan of the district for land sales and town reserves.[7][8] This angered Governor Sir George Gipps.[9]
Dixon is credited with having first surveyed and named a number of areas along the East Coast of Australia including:
- Cronulla, New South Wales – the named based on the Aboriginal word kurranulla.
- Gunnamatta Bay, New South Wales.
- The Oaks, New South Wales – and surrounding areas.
- Otford, New South Wales – originally named Bulgo by Dixon.
- Russell Island, Queensland.[8]
- Wellington Point, Queensland.
Legacy
Dixon, Stapylton and Warner are commemorated on a plaque at the Land Centre, Woolloongabba in Brisbane (27°29′05″S 153°02′07″E / 27.4848°S 153.0353°E). The plaque was placed by the Queensland Division of the Australian Institute of Surveyors and unveiled on 7 May 1989 by the Surveyor-General of Queensland K. J. Davies and the Surveyor-General of New South Wales D. M. Grant.[10]
