Finding Aid for the M. Wright Diary of A Surveyor in East New South Wales, Australia, 1847 LSC.170/296
Finding aid prepared by Jonathan Naito, with assistance from Jain Fletcher and Laurel McPhee, July 2004; machine-readable
finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
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Title: M. Wright Diary of A Surveyor in East New South Wales, Australia
Creator:
Wright, M.
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.170/296
Physical Description:
1 Volumes
148 leaves : paper ; 280 x 210 mm. bound to 350 x 230 mm.
Date (inclusive): 1847
Abstract: The typed transcript of a diary by an Irish surveyor working in East New South Wales, Australia from July 1, 1847 to November
17, 1847. During this time Wright surveyed areas in the vicinity of Dungog, Newcastle, and Singleton. Wright discusses surveying
and life in New South Wales, and also includes an unfinished tale about an evil parson.
General Physical Description note: 148 leaves : paper ; 280 x 210 mm. bound to 350 x 230 mm. Binding: Purple Riven spring-back binder.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
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Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], M. Wright Diary of A Surveyor in East New South Wales, Australia (Collection 170/296). UCLA Library
Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
The manuscript suggests that M. Wright was Irish by birth. He was irregularly employed as a surveyor in New South Wales, Australia,
and during 1847 surveyed portions of Dungog, Newcastle, and Singleton.
Scope and Content
This volume is a typed transcript of a diary covering the period from July 1, 1847 to November 17, 1847. During this time
Wright surveyed areas in the vicinity of Dungog, Newcastle, and Singleton. He discusses personal, professional, and public
matters, including the change in governors in New South Wales from Sir George Gipps to Sir Charles FitzRoy, Mr. Edmund Besley
Court Kennedy's Cape York expedition, and the Commercial Bank scandal. Much attention is given to the Presbyterianism and
Scottish population in Australia. It also includes an unfinished tale about an evil parson that stops and starts at irregular
intervals throughout the manuscript.
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Surveyors -- Australia -- New South Wales -- Diaries.
Wright, M. --Diaries.
ff. 1r-3r: the demise of Sir George Gipps
ff. 12r-16r, 33r-34r, 38r-40r, 56r-58r: M. Wright, "The Devil's Own Parson."
ff. 13r: Harbor survey of Newcastle
ff. 15r, 20r-21r: Mr. Kennedy and the exploring party; complaints about Sir T. S. Mitchell
ff. 26r-33r: Newcastle and the arrival of Sir Charles Augustus Fitz Roy
ff. 63r: drop in price of land from 1837-1847
ff. 74r-80r: Dungog and Singleton
ff. 81r-90r: New Forest in Hampshire and Clarence Town
ff. 99r-100r: land regulation
ff. 101r-116r: Commercial Bank scandal
ff. 123r-25r: squatting regulation.
