P001202 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes updated 2025-05-28 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001202b.htm person Poeppel Augustus AACR2 16 April 1839 4 July 1891 Place of Birth Germany Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Surveyor 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.

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.

1849 1849 Life event - Migrated to South Australia 1859 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 1890 Life event - Retired to Victoria. Wells, Lawrence Allen (1860 - 1938)

Wells assisted Poeppel, surveying the border of South Austalia with Queensland, and the Northern Territory with Queensland, 1880 - 1885

Wikidata

 Poeppel, Augustus (1839-1891)

Trove

 'Poeppel, Augustus', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Poeppel, Augustus Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Augustus Poeppel - Records State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana Augustus Poeppel - Records PRG 143 1880 - 1885 Instructions for a boundary survey, issued by the Surveyor General, G.W. Goyder 1883; report on the province boundary survey 1880; description of an invention to overcome the disadvantage of break of gauge in railway systems 1883; surveying licences 1885; portrait photograph; map of country immediately east of the South Australian border; personal records [PRG 143].