[Flinders St./Victoria Sq./Wakefield St.…

Very detailed plan of Victoria Square, Adelaide extending from Flinders Street to Wakefield Street by Charles W. Smith.

In July 1877 the Adelaide City Council commissioned the eminent English engineer, William Clark (1821-1880) to assess and propose a system of drainage for the city of Adelaide. Clark’s proposal was accepted and prior to commencement of the works Clark required a detailed cadastral survey of the city to be made. On 18 February 1878 the Council instructed John Lloyd Hyndman (1836 – 1878) the City Engineer and Surveyor to prepare a large detailed plan of the city of Adelaide to show; permanent from temporary buildings, the levels not only of the street surfaces, but of the back yards, the levels and positions of cellars where they exist, and points where drainage will be required, such as kitchen sinks, water taps, stack pipes, water closets on a scale of 40 feet to the inch. Work proceeded but on 4th August 1878, Hyndman unexpectedly died and was replaced by the engineer Charles William Smith.

Smith began working on the survey on 20th  October 1878 and had to redo Hynman’s previous work as he found it inaccurately done. The plan of the City was completed on 30th June 1880. The survey plotted even the smallest buildings in the city it recorded; row cottages with their outhouses and backyard washing areas, as well as mansions, businesses, places of worship, and government buildings. Some premises are named. It also shows street names and town acre numbers.

Smith’s important survey not only facilitated the installation of a much needed drainage system for the City but also supplied the Lands Titles Office with very accurate data to enable it to determine the legal boundaries of properties to be transferred and registered under the Real Property Act of 1858.

From Adelaide City Council, The Smith Survey.

References:
Adelaide City Council, The Smith Survey.

Collections:
National Library Australia: 46895612
State Library South Australia: Record # b1378035