The Discovery of the Brisbane River.

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Esmond Parsons
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1 The Discovery of the Brisbane River. John Oxley's Missing Journal of BY NICHOLAS LOCKYEK, C.B.E., I.S.O. (Read before the Society, 28th April, 1919). In the Sydney Daily Telegraph of 21st and 22nd September, 1910, there appeared a contribution by Mr. A. Meston, of Sydney (who I understand is a surveyor), the subject of which was " Surveyor Hoddle's Field Books," in which was contained a description of a survey in 1823 of portion of the Queensland coast, including Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River. It is claimed that Hoddle Avas Avith Oxlej'^ in the Mermaid and that these field books contained an independent record of that expedition. ^ As is well known, Oxley's original report and journals of the above surveys haa^e hitherto remained undiscovered, and the only surviving record of one of the most interesting incidents in the history of early Queensland is a reprint of Oxley's report and a report in greater detail in some respects by John Uniacke, both of which appeared in Barron Field's book on New South Wales, published in In the first of his two articles in the Sydney Daily Telegraph, Mr. Meston states that the Mr. Robert Hoddle, above referred to, arrived in New South Wales from South Africa in and was appointed as an Assistant Surveyor on 8th January of that year, and it is also claimed that Mr. Hoddle made extensive sura^eys in the vicinity of Moreton Bay; this was also in the year 1823 ; that he became Surveyor-General of Victoria, and in July, 1853, retired on a pension of 1,000 per annum, AH'hich he drew to the date of his death in : On the following day, in his second article, Mr. Meston states that " Robert Hoddle came out to New South Wales, under engagement as a schoolmaster in the ship New Caledonia in He entered the Survey Department at Sydney, in 1824, and was appointed Acting Deputy Surveyor in On 14th September, 1840, he received ai retiring allowance of 800." Here are two entirely distinct Robert Hoddles, and Mr. Meston seems to have left his readers to choose, according to their fancy, which one

2 47 of these two Avas responsible for the field books, the subject of his articles. Mr. Meston had the good fortune to unearth these books in the Sydney Survey Office, and after quoting copiously from them he concludes by saying: " Remarkable is the fact that Hoddle nowhere in these books makes the slightest reference to Oxley, the leader of the expedition, and mentions no one individually except Uniacke and Penson (the master of the Mermaid), and the mate of the vessel. He writes as if he were the leader of the party. Hoddle apparently takes all the bearings, gives all the orders, and ' bosses ' the whole business. Thence comes the natural query : Are these the field books of Hoddle or Oxley? The spelling in these books is incredible in a man specially imported as a schoolmaster, at a period Avhen the qualifications of a public teacher were certainly quite as good as at the present time, if not higher. The grammar is also imperfect, and Hoddle Avas a man of considerable scholastic attainments Avhen he became Acting Deputy Surveyor in four years after his arrival in Sydney and Deputy Surveyor in the following year, and if these field books were Avritten by Oxley, then the no reference anywhere to Hoddle, or by name to any: companion except Uniacke and Penson, would be singular except to recall Oxley's peculiarity in omitting all credit to anybody but himself. This is the argument that might be used, were it not that Hoddle's story is different from that of Oxley and Uniacke, and that as a plain surveyor he had not the right to make comments on his official chief, or any of the party, and the fact that all the books are in Hoddle's oavn handwriting gives the whole question an incontrovertible finality." Briefly, Mr. Meston pins his faith to the schoolmaster, Avhose scholastic attainments were considerable and whose grammar was " imperfect " and spelling "incredible." He has discarded the Hoddle who laid out Melbourne, and he has identified the schoolmaster's hand- Avriting. Experienced judges Avith good reason rarely place too great reliance on the identification of handwriting by casual experts. These field books were rediscovered by Mr. Thomas Welsby, who quotes extracts from them in his book " The Discoverers of the Brisbane River," published in 1913,* but Welsby does not follow Meston's lead inasmuch as he adopts as the author another Hoddle and calls him John, and not Robert, which adds to the confusion. Mr. Welsby concludes these field books afford " undeniable proof that Hoddle was Avith Oxley in also that he journeyed Brisbane, H.J. Diddams & Co. Dedicated to the Historical Society of Queensland.

3 48 with Oxley on his voyage up the river named afterwards the Brisbane, as far as Termination Point." He further disagrees with Meston by maintaining "that Oxley's narrative contained no mention of Uniacke," which suggests the regret that Mr. Welsby did not refer to Oxley's report. These field books which it is variously claimed have been written by Robert Hoddle, who arrived in 1820, by Robert Hoddle, who arrived in 1823, and by John Hoddle who does not seem to have had any arrival, are relied upon by both Mr. Meston and by Mr. Welsby for the purpose of indicting Oxley of ungenerous treatment of Parsons, Finnegan and Pamphlet, who jointly first discovered the Brisbane River. It is in these field books that due justice is extended to them, and Mr. Welsby expresses his thankfulness " after the lapse of ninety years to know that I have been enabled to Avrite what can be regarded as truthful, the interesting story of these shipwrecked souls who,, if they were convicts or ticket-of-leave men, proved what Britishers could do.... In one number (of the field books) a clear and distinct account is given of the finding of the wanderers, the wording being of sincerity and earnestness occasioned by such a discovery." There can be little doubt but that both Mr. Meston and Mr. Welsby have drawn the most erroneous deductions from the evidence before them, and have thus missed making^ a most interesting discovery of a long sought for precious record. I have not been able to visit Sydney for the purpose of examining these field books, but there can be no doubt whatever they will prove to be John Oxley's missing journal, of which Sir Hugh Nelson said : " It has disappeared, never, it is feared, to be recovered, but there is not a shadow of doubt that in that journal would have been found every significant detail connected Avith the exploration day by day of the bay and river." The most absurd feature in this romance is that the least discernment should have led to the identification of the true authorship. The books may be copies, which I very much doubt, but if they are copies, the originals were vn-itten by Oxley. It can be said Avith confidence that the hand which is responsible for their contents is identical Avith that which wrote Oxley's report dated 10th January, Whilst reading the brief extracts which have so far appeared in print I could not help but feeling that they were holding out signals appealing for recognition of their true import. The numerous proofs of their real authorship are so obvious by even casual comparison, that it is almost

4 49 superfluous to quote the sentences and phrases which are identical Avith those which may be found throughout Oxley's report. The folloaving illustrations may, hoavever, be found interesting to those who may not have the opportunity of personally comparing the originals. The pages quoted refer to Oxley's Report contained in Barron Field's book on New South Wales published in 1825, and to those in Welshy's book in which he quotes extracts from the "Hoddle" Field Books. OXLEY, page 16. ' The appearance of the country, the slowness of the current even at ebb tide, and the depth of water, induced me to conclude that the river will be found navigable for vessels of burthen to much great distance probably not less than fifty miles." - OXLEY, page 17. ".Justify me in entertaining a -strong belief that the source of the river will not be found in a mountainous country but rather it flows from some lake." OXLEY, page 17. " It is by far the largest fresh water river in New South Wales and promises to be of the utmost importance to the Colony, as it affords communication with the -sea to a vast extent of country, a great portion of which appeared to me capable of raising the richest productions of the tropics. OXLEY, page 24.' " The currents to the South of Breaksea Spit, at a distance of fifteen or twenty miles from the shore, set strong to the South. Near the shore there is little current and I have there found it setting to the north." " HODDLE," page 63. " The slowness of the current and depth of water induce me to conclude that the river will be found navigable for vessels of burden to a very considerable distance, probably at least fifty miles." "HODDLE," page 63. " I cannot help entertaining a strong belief that this is no river having its source in mountain streams... on the contrary, my opinion is strongly in favor of its deriving its source in an interior lake." "HODDLE," page 63. " It is by far the largest river in New South Wales and promises to be of the utmost importance to the Colony from the very fertile country it passes through, affording the means of water communication with the sea to a vast extent of country, the greater portion of which is capable of producing the richest productions of the Tropics." "HODDLE," page 60. " Out at sea they (the currents) appear to set strong to the south, in the shore to the north, and this corresponds with my own experience on this point, and with that of Captain Flinders." (The latter surely represents the expression of opinion of a nautical rather than that of a land surveyor.)

5 OXLEY, page 15. " HODDLE," page 63. " Nothing, however, indicated " I had not contemplated such that I should speedily arrive at a discovery, and was thereforethe Termination (of the tidal totally unprovided with the present waters) and being upwards of means of ascertaining how much seaenty miles from the vessel, with further the river was navigable, not more than another day's pro- We were about seventy miles from visions (not having expected to the vessel and owe provisions were make such a discovery) I landed on only calculated for the present day the South shore for the purpose of... I therefore determined ta examining the country. On as- return down the river as far as thecending a low hill rising about Green hill and afterwards pro- 260 feet which I called Termin- ceeded to determine such points,, ation Hill I obtained a view, etc." etc." No comment is necessary in regard to the foregoing comparisons beyond pointing out they cannot be explained as being mere coincidences, and further, it may be borne in mind that the field books in all probability were frequently Avritten up whilst at work in the boat and often under considerable discomfort. They largely represent rough notes which later on formed the basis upon which were written the more careful prepared Report and Journal. There is a quaint similarity in Mr. Welsby's description of these field books Avith that of Mr. W. H. Traill, whosimilarly unearthed at the Sydney Survey Office and made public Oxley's journal relating to his second visit to the Brisbane River in Mr. Traill, folloaving Sir Hugh Nelson in his anniversary address before the Queensland Geographical Society on 27th July, 1900, said : " The original is contained in a small common paper-covered: copy book or note book. The first eighteen pages are Avritten in ink, the rest are in pencil, commencing with the new survey of the river.... and there are some rough pencil sketches and drafts, outlines of Mount Forbes and. Mount Banister, others unnamed, and marine survey of shoals, etc." Mr. Welsby in regard to the " Hoddle " field books, says : " They are quaint-looking books in good preservation, written partly in ink and partly in pencil, shoaving daily reckonings, and latitude and longitude, and sketches of part of the Southern coast.... and various pencil sketches of the Avindings and turnings of the stream '' (The Brisbane). -Although it was hardly necessary, I have searched the Sydney Gazette of September, 1823, in order to ascertain if it recorded the names of those who accompanied Oxley in the Mermaid, but beyond a brief reference to Oxley's projected expedition it does not afford any information on the subject. In the 1823 volume at the Melbourne Public Library, the December numbers are missing, I was therefore unable to refer to the record,, if any, of Oxley's return.

6 51 If, however, the existing records as published by Barron Field are referred to it will be found that of those on board the Mermaid, apart from Oxley, reference is made on more than one occasion to Lieutenant Stirling, of the Buffs, to John Uniacke, both of whom appear to have been on board as friends of Oxley, rather than as members of his staff ; and also to Charles Penson, the master of the Mermaid the mate of the latter is referred to but not by name and on one occasion " Bowen " is mentioned; the latter was a Sydney aboriginee. There is no mention throughout of any person of the name of Hoddle, nor is there any suggestion of any survey or other work having been done by any other than those mentioned. On November 6th, 1823, when at Port Curtis, Mr. Uniacke mentions : " Mr. Oxley, Mr. Stirling, and myself, quitted the vessel with two boats, taking A\dth us three days' provisions." On such an occasion, Avith two boats available, it is highly improbable that one of the Mr. Hoddles, if on board, would be left behind. The name of Hoddle is not mentioned anywhere in connection with the expedition, excepting on the cover of some field books, the property of Oxley. How the name got there, and who that name really does refer to may possibly be solved when a careful examination is made by a competent authority. A copy of the so-called Hoddle Field Books is now available for reference at the Chief Secretary's Department, Brisbane, and a comparison of these vsith Oxley's report will readily prove the accuracy of my conclusions. Whatever name may appear on the covers of the originals, their contents represent Oxley's own journal of the " Expedition to Survey Port Curtis, Moreton Bay, and Port Bowen in the months of October, November and December, 1823." It is not necessary for me to refer to Oxley's many brilliant services to Australia. They are well known. He died in 1828, at the early age of 47, broken in health by the privations he had endured as an explorer. His name is worthy to be honored, and it is very difficult to understand why so many Avriters seem to search only for that which may tarnish the name of men who have rendered valuable public service, ahd as has been the case in regard to some of our early pioneers pass lightly over the deeds which should ever command the gratitude and admiration of every fair-minded Australian. I sincerely trust that Oxley's journal, the subject of this paper, may find a safe and permanent resting place in the Brisbane Library. The name of Hoddle is distinguished by the laying out of the City of Melbotu-ne, but the lustre of that name will be in no way ditninished by the fact that

7 52 it now becomes necessary to lay out permanently the Hoddle myth of Moreton Bay. (Note. I am sure the members will appreciate the fact that in the foregoing remarks I only refer te the phantom Hoddle masquerading under the name of Oxley and created by the fertile imaginations of certain -writers. I certainly do not wish to suggest any discourtesy to any real person of that name and particularly to that of Robert Hoddle, whose designing of the site of Melbourne will ever remain a tribute to his genius. Since writing the above, I am indebted to the President, Mr. Cumbrae Stewart, for an interesting reference to a note on page 918, vol. XI, Series 1, of the Historical Records of Australia. This note, Avhich I should not have overlooked, is to the effect that Oxley's Journal of his 1823 survey f' Avill be found in a volume in Series V." Unfortunately, that volume has not yet appeared, and I understand the publication has been suspended, I fear indefinitely. It appears clear, however, from a reference to the records that the Editor obtained his information from a copy of Sir Thomas Brisbane's Despatch, dated 3rd February, 1824, addressed to Earl Bathurst, and not directly from Oxley's Report and Journal furnished to the Governor. The copy may follow the original in detail or it may not. I conclude, however, it is highly probable that Oxley's Journal Avritten day by day during the progress of his survey is likely to contain far more detail and incident than Avill be found in the above A-shen it is available for reference.^ N.L.) [Mr. Lockj^er has since put it beyond all doubt that Hoddle did not accompany Oxley in His searches in the Lands Office in Sydnej?, haa'-e resulted in the discovery of Oxley's letter of 3rd September, 1823, recommending the temporary appointment of Mr. Robert Hoddle, late Assistant SurA^eyor in the Engineer Department of the "Cape of Good Hope, as Assistant Surveyor, in order that certain work should be done in Oxley's absence in the north. This was approa'ed, and Hoddle was appointed temporarily during Oxley's absence, and attached to the ToAvn and Home Districts on 9th September, A report from him to Major Goulburn, the Colonial Secretary, dated 4th November, 1823, gives an account of the work in which he had been employed up to that date. This was the survey of the new route from the ford at the Hawkesbury River to the ford at Cox's RiA^er, discoaered by Mr. Bell, Junr. Mr. Arthur Hore, Under Secretary Department of Lands, Sydney, writing to Mr. Lockyer on 6th May, 1919, says..."documents... plainly indicate that Mr. Hoddle

8 53 did not, as has been previously supposed, accompany Mr, Oxley on his expedition to the north in 1823, when the Brisbane River was discovered. The Field Books hitherto attributed to Hoddle have now been carefully examined, and prove to be those of Mr, Oxley, and are only such as would be made by a Nautical Surveyor.... The necessary corrections to the Departmental Records are now being made." Editor.]

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