Background
"Persistent unauthenticated sources
Speak of its inexhaustible resources,
Plan it in detail, guess how far it stretches;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . but the sketches contain no reference to the official grid."
John Manifold
'Travellers' Tales'
The Natmap survey programme initially concentrated on the Barkly region with one of the objectives being to provide through the 4 mile map series a reliable topographic base for the Northern Australia Regional Survey being undertaken by the then Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) party which was conducting an ecological study of the Barkly region.
"In order that the country might be subdivided in a fundamental
rather than superficial way ...."
(Christian at al. 1954)
The general instructions for the Natmap survey were contained in a minute of 29 April 1948 from the then Deputy Director of National Mapping, Mr. B.P. Lambert, to the Chief Topographic Surveyor:
"Mapping Barkly Tableland."
"In connection with the activities of Mr Hocking's party, it is suggested
that it would be desirable at least to obtain an astrofix in the vicinity of
each intersection of 4 mile sheets, one in the vicinity of the centre of
each 4 mile sheet, and one near each permanent feature such as
homesteads, etc.
This desirable will, of course, be subject to practical difficulties of
identifiable detail etc.
In connection with barometer heighting, it would appear desirable to run
a base barometer at each base camp and arrange for circuits to commence
and finish on the base, with both feet and pressure scales being recorded
in addition to temperature readings.
(not possible under flying camp conditions, D.R.H.)
The C.S. and I.R. parties may be operating in different areas at times, in
which case it may be possible to arrange for them to undertake barometer traversing and assist in marking up the necessary topographic detail.
It will be very desirable to establish the gradient of river courses and
general height of the edge of the tableland together with the elevations
of the highest points which are likely to be critical to air navigation in any particular locality."
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In view of these major ecological and mapping survey activities being undertaken in 1948 it is interesting to reflect on the following extract which is part of Dr H.I. Jensen's innovative and farsighted report of more than 70 years ago as Director of Mines, Northern Territory contained in the 1912 N.T. Journal on page 89:
"Recommendations and Conclusions."
"There can be no doubt that a detailed investigation of portions, at any rate,
of the Northern Territory would be of great advantage to mining. It is, however, strikingly apparent, that elaborate geological work must be
preceded by a trigonometrical survey. With the exception of a narrow belt along the railway line and trans-continental telegraph line, there is a lack of astronomically fixed points from which geological survey can be commenced. Further it would facilitate greatly the work of geological survey if such physiographic features as water courses, ranges of hills, and cliffs, peaks, plains and timber belts were delineated on the map prior to the commencement of geological work.
In many parts of the Northern Territory, photographic surveying (photogrammetry) could be utilised for the execution of such work with a considerable degree of exactitude, and with great speed.
It might be mentioned that a topographical survey of the Territory is as essential for the rational subdivision for pastoral and agricultural purposes,
as it is for geological purposes. To the intending settler or agriculturalist, a block consisting entirely of open treeless plains, without a water hole or
water course, is an uninviting proposition. When the timber belts and water courses, and stony grounds are accurately mapped the country can be designed and plotted into various areas, each containing water, timber belts, and good soil, in such a way that the interests of intending settlers are truly regarded."
Farsighted indeed! Not many people in Australia knew about photogrammetry in 1912.
One of the main reasons for close co-ordination of the CSIR and Natmap parties was the scarcity of aerial photographs in 1948 and with only one set of photos being available for each map area these were left or collected from police stations, homesteads and even transferred with careful forward planning at major outback events, such as the never to be forgotten Rankin Races where much useful information could be obtained under most enjoyable circumstances.
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