William Romaine Govett
Encyclopedia
William Romaine Govett (3 October 1807 – 22 August 1848) was a painter and assistant surveyor in the Surveyor-General's Department of New South Wales and after whom Govetts Leap was named.
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He was appointed assistant surveyor in the Surveyor-General's Department of New South Wales
on 10 July 1827 and reached Sydney
in December 1828. Part of his work included surveying on the old Bathurst road, during which he discovered Govett's Leap in the Blue Mountains, which was named in his honour by the Surveyor-General of New South Wales (Major Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell).
Mitchell described Govett in his report on the department in 1832 as a ‘wild young man who needed control, who had come to the colony ignorant of surveying but with much natural talent had become perhaps the ablest delineator of ground in the department, and who was remarkably clever at dealing with unexplored country’.
Govett was sent to the Hawkesbury River
in February 1829, where many farms required measurement, but in 1833 his career ended abruptly when the department was reduced. Govett returned to England in March 1834 with a letter of recommendation from Mitchell to the British government.
After his return to England Govett lived at Tiverton, where he wrote several articles on New South Wales which were published in The Saturday Magazine
between 7 May 1836 and 2 September 1837 under the title Sketches of New South Wales. They dealt with such topics as the nature of the country he had helped to survey, the habits of the Aboriginals
, and life in Sydney; they were illustrated with twelve paintings by Govett, which were later advertised for sale by G. Michelmore & Co.
Govett seems to have undergone a personal crisis after his return and considered going abroad again to make a fresh start but died on 22 August 1848 in London.
The State Library of New South Wales
holds a portrait of Govett by an unknown artist (Reference GPO 1 – 18552).
Background
Govett was born at Tiverton in Devon and educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
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He was appointed assistant surveyor in the Surveyor-General's Department of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
on 10 July 1827 and reached Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in December 1828. Part of his work included surveying on the old Bathurst road, during which he discovered Govett's Leap in the Blue Mountains, which was named in his honour by the Surveyor-General of New South Wales (Major Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell).
Mitchell described Govett in his report on the department in 1832 as a ‘wild young man who needed control, who had come to the colony ignorant of surveying but with much natural talent had become perhaps the ablest delineator of ground in the department, and who was remarkably clever at dealing with unexplored country’.
Govett was sent to the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
in February 1829, where many farms required measurement, but in 1833 his career ended abruptly when the department was reduced. Govett returned to England in March 1834 with a letter of recommendation from Mitchell to the British government.
After his return to England Govett lived at Tiverton, where he wrote several articles on New South Wales which were published in The Saturday Magazine
The Saturday Magazine (magazine)
The Saturday Magazine was a British magazine published from July 7, 1832 to December 28, 1844 by the Committee of General Literature and Education, who were in turn sponsored by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. It ran for 801 issues, with the latter issues being published by John...
between 7 May 1836 and 2 September 1837 under the title Sketches of New South Wales. They dealt with such topics as the nature of the country he had helped to survey, the habits of the Aboriginals
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
, and life in Sydney; they were illustrated with twelve paintings by Govett, which were later advertised for sale by G. Michelmore & Co.
Govett seems to have undergone a personal crisis after his return and considered going abroad again to make a fresh start but died on 22 August 1848 in London.
The State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
holds a portrait of Govett by an unknown artist (Reference GPO 1 – 18552).