Media Release

ACT Border Lines Named After Pioneer Surveyors

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has officially named the ACT border lines after the three surveyors who marked the perimeter of the nation's capital 100 years ago.

Mr Stanhope and NSW Governor, Marie Bashir unveiled a commemorative plaque at Mount Coree today revealing the names - the 184.7 km Sheaffe Line, 93.3km Johnston Line and 28 km Mouat Line.

The names correspond to the areas of the ACT marked by surveyors Percy Sheaffe, Harry Mouat and Frederick Johnston over five years, starting in 1910.

"The Centenary Border Survey plaque commemorates the 100th anniversary of the start of the ACT border survey and recognises those surveyors who carved the ACT out of the NSW landscape," Mr Stanhope said.

"The plaque traces the journeys of Sheaffe, Mouat and Johnston as they negotiated some of the toughest mountain terrain to mark the 306 km long border between New South Wales and the Federal Capital Territory, later renamed, the Australian Capital Territory.

"As we head towards Canberra's Centenary in 2013 I hope Canberrans take the time to visit Mount Coree and discover the role of these brave pioneers in helping to shape the nation's capital."

Located on the peak of Mount Coree, the commemorative plaque marks the site where Percy Sheaffe began to mark the ACT's boarders in June 1910 under the supervision of the Commonwealth Director of Land and Surveys, Charles Scrivener.

Sheaffe's work was followed by Harry Mouat, who in 1913 surveyed the land to the south of Mount Coree, and Frederick Johnston who completed the survey in 1915.

Plaques celebrating the centenary of the border survey were also unveiled in Dunlop last month by Mr Stanhope.

Media Contact:
Jess Wurf 6205 0504 0411 772 700 jess.wurf@act.gov.au