Plan showing Outcrops of Reefs on Supposed Extension South of the New Chum Line of Reef, from the extended Company’s Ground.

Mapmaker:

Norman Taylor (1834-1894)

Appointment  to the Assay Office in Melbourne in 1854. He had from a boy shown a strong liking for geological studies. His father possessed an exceptionally valuable collection of specimens and it was very likely this fact that induce young Taylor to prosecute his studies in a geological direction. He was originally intended for the army, and finished his military education at Addiscombe. It was probably his intimacy with Sir H De le Beche, the originator of the geological survey of Great Britain as well as his own ability and industry, that obtained for him his appointment in the Geological Department of Victoria. He joined the service in 1856, was for some years head of the department and remained altogether in the public services for 38 years. Some years ago, when stationed at Kyneton, he held a commission in a troop of cavalry established there. He was buried at Daylesford on Sunday. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and seven children. As stated before, Mr Norman Taylor entered the Government service in 1856 or thereabouts and the then Government geologist, Mr A R C Selwyn, who selected him on account of his marked capacity as regards geologist observation and surveying. In company with Messrs Alpin, Ulrich and Daintree he held the position of field geologist under Mr Selwyn until the disbandment of the Geological Survey department in 1868. During this period of service he made the surveys and constructed the geological map of a large area of county comprising Broadmeadows, Wallan, Whittlesea, Kilmore, Lancefield, Sunbury, Kyneton and Redesdale districts, and was also for a time during 1864 engaged on an exploration on the then almost unknown extreme eastern part of Victoria around Mallacoota Inlet. After the disbandment of the Geological Survey in 1868, Mr Taylor was engaged in New South Wales and Queensland, both on public service and in private practice as a consulting geologist, and did some valuable work in connection with the technological museum and laboratory under Mr J C Newbury. He re-entered the Victorian Service early in the seventies as a geological surveyor under Mr R Brough Smyth, then secretary for Mines, and continued with a few intermissions in the service of the Mining department until about a year ago. During this period Mr Taylor executed various important geological surveys, such as those of Clunes, Stawell, Daylesford and Rutherglen districts, the published maps which are now generally valued and appreciated by mining and scientific public. His memory will be held in esteem by all his former colleagues and fellow workers in the field of science.