Poeppel, Augustus (1839 - 1891)

Summary

Augustus Poeppel was a South Australian government surveyor and between January 1880 and March 1881, assisted by Lawrence Wells, marked the boundary of South Australia with Queensland, to the Northern Territory border, the corner point marked and known as Poeppel Corner. Unfortunately this initial work was at fault due to his 'chain' being stretched due to use, being one inch too long. The survey was corrected when the South Australian Triangulation Survey reached the border and on checking the mileposts, discovered an error in chainage and the corner post was relocated. In 1883 Peoppel and Wells returned to survey the 138th meridian from Poeppel Corner to the Gulf of Carpentaria, but due to the harsh conditions and ill-health they withdrew in July 1885.

Poeppel retired to Victoria in 1890.

Details

Augustus Poeppel was a surveyor with the South Australian Government from 1879. He completed the survey of the eastern boundary line for the province of South Australia, along the 141st meridian, from Cooper Creek to the 26th parallel of latitude for the South Australian Government, then surveyed the 26th parallel of latitude from the 141st meridian to the 138th meridian. He re-chained the line on the 26th parallel after a discrepancy was discovered, due to the chain he used having been an inch (2.5 cm) too long. A post at the point where South Australia meets the Northern Territory on its eastern side ("Poeppel Corner") initially erected by Poeppel in December 1880, was relocated after the second survey had been made.

Previously the border survey on the 141st meridian, commencing at the Murray River and ending at Cameron Corner north of Cooper Creek, was surveyed by William Barron during 1879 to 1880, but abandoned when his health failed and he was forced to return to Adelaide.

Chronology

1849

Life event - Migrated to South Australia

1859

Life event - Naturalised as a Victorian Citizen

1878 - 1885

Career position - Surveyor, South Australian Lands Department

1880 - 1881

Career position - Surveyor, South Australia and Queensland Border Survey

1883 - 1885

Career position - Surveyor, South Australia and Northern Territory Border Survey

1890

Life event - Retired to Victoria.

Related entries

Archival resources

State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana

• Augustus Poeppel - Records, 1880 - 1885, PRG 143; State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana. Details

Published resources

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q28030769. Details
• 'Poeppel, Augustus (1839-1891)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476113. Details