Obituaries Australia

Edward MacFarlane, n.d.

State Library of New South Wales, d1_03111

Mr. Edward MacFarlane (formerly Under Secretary for Lands) died yesterday, at his residence, McDonald Street Paddington. The late Mr. MacFarlane, who was the second son of the late Dr. John MacFarlane, was born at Sydney on January 11, 1850. He commenced his education at Fort Street School, and was a member of the class taught by the late Mr. F. Bridges (late under-Secretary for Public Instruction). He subsequently attended the Sydney Grammar School for nearly eight years, and in 1865, after successfully passing a competitive examination, entered the Surveyor-General's Office.

In 1872 he took up the position of field assistant, serving first with Mr. District Surveyor Fisher, and afterwards with Mr. J. M. Tarves. After obtaining his licence his first charge was a drought-stricken district, with Canonbar as its centre. In 1876 he was appointed to the field staff of the Surveyor-General's office, with headquarters at Dubbo. In January, 1881, he acted as district surveyor at Bourke, and four years later was appointed district survevor for the Bourke, Cobar, and Wilcannia land districts. In 1817 the land district of Wilcannia was added to the district under his supervision, so that he had charge of survey in more than 59,000,000 acres.

Mr. MacFarlane held the chairmanship of the Bourke Land Board from 1896 to 1899, when for health reasons he was transferred to Tamworth. The deceased gentleman was appointed Acting Under-Secretary for Lands on September 4, 1903, Under-Secretary in 1904, and he retired from the service on July 2, 1908. Since that time he had been actively interested in the estate of the late Mr. Henry Lynd Nathan.

In 1883 he married a daughter of the late Mr. James Horsfall, of Bourke. His wife predeceased him. He has left three daughters, all of whom are war workers in India. His only son, Captain Edward MacFarlane, was killed at the front. His brother is Mr. W. M. MacFarlane, C.S.M.