Artistic accomplishments
Courtesy of Mrs B Oakes
Many of Queensland's early surveyors and cartographers were artists and poets. In England during the 1800s, children of the upper and middle classes were often taught drawing, art and the use of light and shade.
The surveyor in the field would often draw or sketch what he saw before him, using the same pencil and field book that he was using for his survey.
A cartographer would use his artistic ability to produce the sales lithographs. These were often decorated with drawings and used to entice intending selectors to settle on the crown lands of the colony.
Some would often cartoon their work colleagues, while others would prepare the Christmas cards.
Related links
- Learn about Queensland’s mapping history.
- View images of instruments and equipment used to survey and map Queensland.