Surveying for Land Settlement in Victoria 1836-1960

Surveying for land settlement in Victoria 1836 – 1960 is a historical record of land surveying in Victoria from the first European settlement in the 1830s through to 1960.

It was written by Keith Chappel in 1966 and published by the Office of Surveyor-General Victoria in 1996.

Keith Chappel was a surveyor with the Victorian Department of Lands and Survey from 1924 to 1963 and wrote the book following his retirement to preserve the early history of land surveying in Victoria.

It is a reference work which provides historical information on the evolution of surveying and land administration systems that have shaped modern day practices. Of particular note are the sections on the surveys of Victoria’s borders with South Australia and New South Wales.

The book does not contain information on the occupation and possession of land in Victoria by First Peoples prior to 1830. It is acknowledged that First Peoples exercised custodianship of this land for millennia prior to European settlement and had a close spiritual connection with their country which they still have today.