Biographical entry Burnett, James Charles (1815 - 1854)

Summary

James Charles Burnett was appointed a clerk in the New South Wales Surveyor-General's Dept in 1833 where he rapidly rose through the ranks. In 1844 he was made head of the new Survey Office established at Brisbane.

Details

Born England, 1815. Died Brisbane, 18 July 1854. Arrived Sydney 1829. Clerk, Surveyor-General's department from 1833, rising through draftsman and assistant-surveyor to head the new Survey Office established at Brisbane 1844; commanded an expedition to trace the Dividing Range as far north as was practically consistent with a speedy arrival at Moreton Bay 1841-42; surveyed the Richmond River from its source to its mouth 1843; surveyed the large river system beyond the Upper Brisbane River, exploring a wide River named the Burnett in recognition of his work, and the mouth of a smaller river which entered Wide Bay, where Maryborough was later established. Fellow, Royal Geographical Society 1854.

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

• James Charles Burnett - Records, 1833 - 1854; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Dignan, Don, 'Burnett, James Charles (1815-185), surveyor and explorer', in Douglas Pike (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 3, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1969, pp. 303-304. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030281b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Burnett, James Charles', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1466604. Details