Person

Taylor, Norman (1834 - 1894)

Born
3 October 1834
England
Died
22 June 1894
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Geologist and Botanist

Summary

Norman Taylor joined the Geological Survey of Victoria as Field Geologist in 1856, soon after arriving in Victoria. The maps resulting from surveys were noted for their accuracy and level of detail. He remained with the Survey until 1869, when it was abolished, the last two years in a temporary capacity. In 1872 Taylor was appointed geologist to the Northern Exploring Party, a Queensland government initiative to explore Cape York under the leadership of William Hann. Taylor made geological collections that proved to be important evidence of the age of Australia's desert sandstones. With Thomas Tate, naturalist with the Party, Taylor made botanical collections: these were sent to herbaria outside Queensland. On returning to Victoria, Taylor made the first geological survey of East Gippsland. He rejoined the re-established Geological Survey in 1879. A botanical enthusiast, he sent specimens he collected to the Victorian Government Botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller: these are now in the National Herbarium of Victoria. Taylor was also a skilled artist. his surviving sketches are in the La Trobe Library.

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Details

Chronology

1854
Life event - Migrated to Australia
1856 - 1869
Career position - Field Geoogist, Geological Survey of Victoria
1869 - 1879
Career position - Geologist, Northern Exploring Party
1879 - 1894
Career position - Field Geologist, Geological Survey of Victoria
1883 -
Career event - Foundation Member, Victorian Engineers Association

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

  • Norman Taylor - Records, 1853 - 1911, MS 10288; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

  • Darragh, T. A., 'Taylor, Norman in Kerr, J. ed The dictionary of Australian artists, painters, sketchers, photographers and engravers to 1870' (Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1992), p. 781. Details

Journal Articles

  • Dunn, E. J.; and Mahony, D. J., 'Biographical Sketch of the Founders of the Geological Survey of Victoria', Bulletins of The Geological Survey of Victoria, 23 (1910), 48. Details
  • Taylor, Norman, 'On the Cudgegong diamond field, New South Wales', Geological magazine, 6 (10) (1879), 444-58. Details

Resources

See also

  • Clarke, W. R., 'Recent explorations in northern Australia and Queensland', Transactions of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 7 (1873), 6-20. Details
  • Fagg, Murray, 'Taylor, Norman (1834 - 1894)', Australian Plant Collectors and Illustrators, Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH), 2010, https://anbg.gov.au/biography/taylor-norman.html. Details

McCarthy, G.J. and Helen Cohn

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 13 March 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P000823b.htm

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