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Capt. Bloomfield Douglas, R.N.R.
born 25 Sept 1831 in England (1901
census)
• from Meteorological Service
• July 1892 - appointed head of tidal investigations.
• 1892 - visited sites for tidal gauges
• 1893-1904 - in charge of east coast tidal stations.
• 1894 - built tide gauges at Forteau Bay and Father Point.
• 1895 - built tide gauges at Bonne Bay and Halifax.
• June 1904 - left Tidal survey to accept Nautical Advisor to Board of
Examiners for Masters & Mates. |
The West Coast was the last major part of the Australian coast to be
known to Europeans. Although it was one of the first parts of our coast to
be visited, detailed exploration had to wait until the 19th century.
After colonisation, formal exploration continued, first under the
guidance of Captain Thomas Lipson, Port Adelaide's first Harbour Master
and later under Captain Bloomfield Douglas. Their names and those of their
vessels are remembered on the charts at places including Port Douglas,
Yatala Channel and Waterwitch Channel. Even the good ship Venus got a
mention! In this era many features were named after colonial identities or
their friends. Governor MacDonnell's wife, Blanche, is remembered at Cape
Blanche and Blanche Port. In 1857 Captain Douglas published a major set of
charts based on the colonial explorers' work. In 1858 he made a detailed
survey of the West Coast in the schooner Yatala.
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