Person
Roach, John William ( - c. 1860)
- Died
- c. 1860
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - Occupation
- Taxidermist and Zoological collector
Summary
John Roach was transported to New South Wales for theft in 1833. He found employment at the Australian Museum as a "collector and preserver of specimens". In 1836 he accompanied Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor General for New South Wales, as zoological collector on an expedition to trace the Darling River. Mitchell led his party into the western parts of what became known as Victoria: this became known as the Australia Felix expedition. Roach left the Museum in 1840 and set up a business as a taxidermist, although he seems to have retained some connection with the Museum, and his larcenous ways.
Details
Chronology
- 1833
- Life event - Transported to New South Wales
- January 1834 - 1840
- Career position - Collector and preserver of specimens, Australian Museum
- 1836
- Career position - Zoological collector, Thomas Mitchell's Australia Felix expedtion
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Iredale, Tom and Whitley, G. P., 'John Roach and the budgerigar', Australian natural history, 14 (3) (1962), 99-102, https://museum-publications.australian.museum/aus-nat-hist-1962-v14-iss3/. Details
Resource Sections
- Australian Museum, 'John William Roach', in History of the Australian Museum: Museum people, 2026, https://australian.museum/about/history/people/john-william-roach/. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 23 July 2026