George Evans (explorer)
Encyclopedia
George William Evans (5 January 1780 – 16 October 1852) was a surveyor
and early explorer
in the colony of New South Wales
. Evans was born in Warwick, England
, migrating to Australia
in October 1802.
whilst Charles Grimes
(the previous Surveyor General) was on leave in England. In 1804, Evans explored the Warragamba River
and upstream to the present site of the Warragamba Dam
. Later removed from the position by Governor Philip Gidley King
he was posted to the position of Assistant Surveyor by Lieutenant-Governor William Paterson
. Evans surveyed the shores of Jervis Bay
and inland to Appin leading the way to the settlement of the Illawarra
region. Probably because of his success it was Governor Lachlan Macquarie
who instructed him to find a passage to the west.
nation of central-western New South Wales to confirm the findings of the exploration party of Blaxland
, Lawson, and Wentworth
. He was the first European to record meeting with the Wiradjuri people of the region. Evans generally followed the route of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth, reaching the end of their route on 26 November 1813 at a point Evans named Mount Blaxland. Evan's party then moved on and discovered the Fish River area and further west near the junction of the now named Fish and Campbell Rivers and described two plains in his view, the O'Connell Plains and the Macquarie Plains. It was on 9 December that he reached the site of present day Bathurst
.
After the explorations that took seven weeks Governor Macquarie awarded Evans ₤100 and 1000 acres of land near Richmond
in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania
). Evans departed for Tasmania in 1814 but was back in NSW by 1815 to continue inland explorations.
In 1815, Evans was the first colonial explorer to enter the Lachlan River
Valley, naming the area the Oxley Plains after his superior the surveyor-general, John Oxley
. He also discovered the Abercrombie and Belubula River Valleys. He was the first explorer through the areas that now include the towns of Boorowa and Cowra.
Evans returned to Tasmania in 1817 but was again to return to NSW to journey with his superior John Oxley on travels into the Lachlan River areas, along the path of the Macquarie River
to the Macquarie Marshes
and eastwards to the coast to Port Macquarie
.
, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
, he sailed for England on 14 November 1826. It appears Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur
found it difficult to positively prove the accusations with a general loose attitude to payments within that office. Arthur even supported Evans's requested for a retirement pension. Evans returned to NSW about six years later and was shown as a stationer / bookseller in Bridge Street, Sydney
. The last ten years of his life was spent at Hobart
, Tasmania
, where he died on 16 October 1852.
are held at the Dixson Library of New South Wales.
in the Central Tablelands
region of inland New South Wales. The memorial was built in 1913 by the citizens of Bathurst to commemorate the 100 years since his discovery of the Bathurst region.
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
and early explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
in the colony of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Evans was born in Warwick, England
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, migrating to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in October 1802.
Early Career
In 1803, Evans was appointed Surveyor General of New South WalesSurveyor General of New South Wales
The Surveyor General of New South Wales is the person nominally responsible for government surveying in New South Wales. The original duties for the Surveyor General was to measure and determine land grants for settlers in New South Wales...
whilst Charles Grimes
Charles Grimes
Charles Grimes was an English-born surveyor who did some valuable work in colonial Australia. He served as surveyor-general of New South Wales and discovered the Yarra River in what is now the state of Victoria. He is perhaps best known for being the surveyor who mapped the route of the Hobart...
(the previous Surveyor General) was on leave in England. In 1804, Evans explored the Warragamba River
Warragamba River
The Warragamba River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. It is best known for being the location of the Warragamba Dam and Lake Burragorang, which form a major part of the water supply to the Sydney region.Prior to the creation of...
and upstream to the present site of the Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and impounds Lake Burragorang.- Overview :...
. Later removed from the position by Governor Philip Gidley King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
he was posted to the position of Assistant Surveyor by Lieutenant-Governor William Paterson
William Paterson (explorer)
Colonel William Paterson, FRS was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing a botanical name.-Early years:A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was...
. Evans surveyed the shores of Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
and inland to Appin leading the way to the settlement of the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region. Probably because of his success it was Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
who instructed him to find a passage to the west.
Exploration of the inland
On 13 November 1813 Governor Lachlan Macquarie sent Evans across the Blue Mountains into the WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
nation of central-western New South Wales to confirm the findings of the exploration party of Blaxland
Gregory Blaxland
Gregory Blaxland was a pioneer farmer and explorer in Australia.- Early life :Gregory Blaxland was born 17 June 1778 at Fordwich, Kent, England, the fourth son of John Blaxland, mayor from 1767 to 1774, whose family had owned estates nearby for generations, and Mary, daughter of Captain Parker,...
, Lawson, and Wentworth
William Wentworth
William Charles Wentworth was an Australian poet, explorer, journalist and politician, and one of the leading figures of early colonial New South Wales...
. He was the first European to record meeting with the Wiradjuri people of the region. Evans generally followed the route of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth, reaching the end of their route on 26 November 1813 at a point Evans named Mount Blaxland. Evan's party then moved on and discovered the Fish River area and further west near the junction of the now named Fish and Campbell Rivers and described two plains in his view, the O'Connell Plains and the Macquarie Plains. It was on 9 December that he reached the site of present day Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
.
After the explorations that took seven weeks Governor Macquarie awarded Evans ₤100 and 1000 acres of land near Richmond
Richmond, Tasmania
Richmond is a town in Tasmania about 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region, between the Midland Highway and Tasman Highway. At the 2006 census, Richmond had a population of 880....
in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
). Evans departed for Tasmania in 1814 but was back in NSW by 1815 to continue inland explorations.
In 1815, Evans was the first colonial explorer to enter the Lachlan River
Lachlan River
- Course :The river rises in the central highland of New South Wales, part of the Great Dividing Range, 13 km east of Gunning. Its major headwaters, the Carcoar River, the Belubula River and the Abercrombie River converge near the town of Cowra. Minor tributaries include the Morongla Creek...
Valley, naming the area the Oxley Plains after his superior the surveyor-general, John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
. He also discovered the Abercrombie and Belubula River Valleys. He was the first explorer through the areas that now include the towns of Boorowa and Cowra.
Evans returned to Tasmania in 1817 but was again to return to NSW to journey with his superior John Oxley on travels into the Lachlan River areas, along the path of the Macquarie River
Macquarie River
The Macquarie River is one of the main inland rivers in New South Wales. Its headwaters rise in the central highlands of New South Wales near the town of Oberon. The river travels generally northwest past the towns of Bathurst, Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, and Warren to the Macquarie Marshes...
to the Macquarie Marshes
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve
The Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve is located in the Macquarie Marshes, a region along the lower Macquarie River in northwestern New South Wales, Australia, about 600 km northwest of Sydney. The marshes are created by irregular flooding of the flat lands along the river...
and eastwards to the coast to Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The city is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and has an estimated population of 44,313....
.
Later life and Death
Accusations were made about irregular payments made to Evans whilst in the Surveyor-Generals position and he was despatched by ship to England to explain the matter to Lord BathurstHenry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst
Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst KG PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Lord Bathurst was the elder son of Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, by his wife Tryphena, daughter of Thomas Scawen...
, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet level position responsible for the army and the British colonies . The Department was created in 1801...
, he sailed for England on 14 November 1826. It appears Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur
George Arthur
Lieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
found it difficult to positively prove the accusations with a general loose attitude to payments within that office. Arthur even supported Evans's requested for a retirement pension. Evans returned to NSW about six years later and was shown as a stationer / bookseller in Bridge Street, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The last ten years of his life was spent at Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, where he died on 16 October 1852.
Other activities
Evans was also known as an artist of some note, some of his aquatintsAquatint
Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching.Intaglio printmaking makes marks on the matrix that are capable of holding ink. The inked plate is passed through a printing press together with a sheet of paper, resulting in a transfer of the ink to the paper...
are held at the Dixson Library of New South Wales.
Memorials to Evans
A standing bronze portrait on a large rusticated sandstone plinth of Evans is located in Kings Parade (Park) at BathurstBathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
in the Central Tablelands
Central Tablelands
The Central Tablelands in New South Wales is an area that is between the Sydney Metropolitan Area and the Central West Slopes and Plains. This area has a part of the Great Dividing Range running through it, including the Blue Mountains...
region of inland New South Wales. The memorial was built in 1913 by the citizens of Bathurst to commemorate the 100 years since his discovery of the Bathurst region.
See also
- List of Blue Mountains articles
- Bathurst, New South WalesBathurst, New South Wales-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
- European exploration of AustraliaEuropean exploration of AustraliaThe European exploration of Australia encompasses several waves of seafarers and land explorers. Although Australia is often loosely said to have been discovered by Royal Navy Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, he was merely one of a number of European explorers to have sighted and landed on the...