1899 JOHNSTON Harry East Murchison Mount Margaret

Lithographic map of part of the Cue, Murchison and Mt Margaret Electoral District with hand drawn annotations including that of the Electoral District boundaries laid on linen. We assume that these maps were used to define new electoral boundaries and may be unique, being the amended and updated copies of map. There is a signature in ink to the bottom right NSB dated 30th October 1900, presumably that of the Chief Draughtsman. Area shown is from Kyarra in the west to the Finlayson Range in the north, Mt Falconer and the Isidore Mine in the east. All pastoral and mining leases and landowners are named. L. A Wells exploration tracks are shown along with part of the Stock Route.The map was printed for the Department of Lands and Surveys under the supervision of Harry F Johnston Surveyor General of Western Australia.Harry F Johnston was born at Bunbury on 24 April 1853, a grandson of M. W. Clifton and son of a surveyor. Entering his father’s profession he joined the Western Australian Lands and Surveys Department in 1883, conducting important surveys in the Kimberleys in 1883-84 and 1901. He became Surveyor-General in 1896 and, during a period of rapid expansion of land settlement, oversaw the mapping of most of Western Australia’s goldfields and the opening of the agricultural south-west. He was first chairman of the Workers’ Homes Board created in 1912. He died following a shooting accident at his home at Swan View on 14 June 1915, survived by his wife Maria Louisa (Minnie), née Butcher and six sons.