Preserving Our History

Goyder as Planner

The Government survey party led by Goyder, Palmerston (later Darwin), 1869. SLSA B4655

In 1863 South Australia took over the administration of the Northern Territory.

The initial exploration and survey party under B. F. Finniss carried with them instructions for the survey of the capital and country sections written by Goyder. Indeed, it was in formulating these instructions in 1864 that Goyder laid down the ideal plan for all the hundreds and townships that were surveyed South Australia in the following 30 years. By 1868 the exploration and survey of the territory had come to a standstill and prospective settlers, leaseholders and land speculators were in uproar.

Government surveying party, Palmerston (later Darwin), 1869. SLSA B11603