Person

Chewings, Charles (1859 - 1937)

Born
16 April 1859
Woorkomgoru Station, South Australia, Australia
Died
9 June 1937
Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
Occupation
Geologist and Anthropologist

Summary

Charles Chewings made several explorations into Central Australia and in the 1890s became a mining consultant and camel-carrier. He studied geology in London and Heidelberg and wrote on both Australian geology and Aboriginal culture and languages.

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Details

Born Woorkongoree station, near Burra, South Australia, 16 April 1859. Died Glen Osmond, South Australia, 9 June 1937. Educated University College, London and University of Heidelberg (PhD 1894). Explored the western MacDonnell Ranges 1881; toured England, Europe and America 1992; travelled from Murat Bay to the Warburton Range 1883 to assess the area's pastoral possibilities; sailed to India and shipped nearly 300 camels to Port Augusta 1884; opened camel transport service based on Hergott Springs (Marree) 1885-91(?) and stocked his cattle-run, Tempe Downs; stock and station agent, sharebroker and commission agent, Adelaide 1888-91; study in England and Europe 1891-94; mining consultant, Coolgardie 1894-1902; mining consultant and camel-carrier of supplies from the railhead, Oodnadatta, to Northern Territory stations and mines 1902-21(?); surveyed a stock route from Barrow Creek to Victoria River , proving the availability of water throughout at shallow depth 1909; mined wolfram in the Northern Territory and transported it by camel to Oodnadatta. Published material on his inland trips, central Australian geology, Aboriginal culture and the language of the Aranda people.

Archival resources

South Australian Museum Archives

  • Charles Chewings - Records, 1935 - 1937, AA59; South Australian Museum Archives. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

  • Mincham, Hans, 'Chewings, Charles (1859-1937), geologist and anthropologist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 7: 1891 - 1939 A-Ch, Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle, eds (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1979), pp. 634-635. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070643b.htm. Details

Resources

See also

  • Serle, Percival, Dictionary of Australian biography (Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1949). Details

McCarthy, G.J.

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 4 February 2010

EOAS ID: biogs/P000926b.htm

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