Page 5 - Binder1

In 1885 in a memorandum (see attachment 2) from the Surveyor
General’s Office, William Davidson, for the Surveyor General, wrote
14
to Mr George Thomas McDonald at Rocklea with instructions that
established Coochiemudlo’s esplanade reserve, now known as the
Emerald Fringe.

You are requested to submit a design for the subdivision of
the Western half of Innis Island off Point Halloran, Moreton
Bay in acre allotments for auction sale. The whole of the
frontage with a depth of not less than 150 links should be
15
reserved (emphasis added).

William Davidson’s reminder to leave a reserve is in reference to the
Surveyor General’s ‘1878 General Directions: Guidance of Surveyors
under the authority of the Lands Department’ (see attachment 3). In
these Directions, under the section General Rules for the
Arrangement of Boundaries of Portions marked for Sale, Lease or
other Alienation, Authorised Surveyors were required, among many
other things, to leave a reserve or esplanade 150 links
[approximately 30 metres] wide along the sea coast where a road
16
was practicable. .These directions further stated that lands with
frontage to the sea or tidal waters were to be bounded by the high
water mark (see attachment 3). Later, when the north east and south

14 A distinguished Victorian government surveyor who transferred to
Queensland in 1878.
15 W. Davidson, for the Surveyor General, memo to George Thomas
McDonald 24 November 1865, Collection of Museum of Lands, Mapping and
Surveying, Brisbane.
16 The first maps of Coochiemudlo Island had an esplanade (Victoria Pde)
circling the island.

4