Obituaries Australia

The death occurred yesterday, at Riversdale, North Goulburn, of Mr. Edward Twynam, formerly Surveyor-General of New South Wales. He was 91 years of age, and died after an illness of four days.

Mr. Twynam was the sole survivor of 12 surveyors brought out from England in 1855. He became an assistant surveyor in the Surveyor-General's Department in 1856, and was next appointed a district surveyor, being promoted to the post of Surveyor-General in 1887, in succession to Mr. P. F. Adams. That office Mr. Twynam held until 1890, when he retired. Throughout the Lands Department he was noted for his high professional attainments, and his splendid qualities as a man. The department will be specially represented at funeral.

Mr. Twynam was born at Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, coming to Australia when he was 23 years of age. He carried out the original survey, and, in a great measure, the exploration of the Lachlan and Darling Rivers, also the survey and lay-out of the base line for the trigonometrical survey of New South Wales. Mr. Twynam proceeded from Albury as district surveyor to Goulburn in 1864. He married in 1866 Emily Rose, daughter of the Rev. Robert Thorley Bolton, and remained in Goulburn until he went to Sydney to take up the duties of Surveyor-General of New South Wales.

Fifty years ago Mr. Twynam acquired Riversdale, North Goulburn, and assisted in the building of the parish church of St Nicholas, of which he was a church warden for many years. He was also a member of the Cathedral Council and patron of the Goulburn Club, being the last surviving member of the 12 founders.

Mr. Twynam his left two sons—Mr. H. Twynam, of Richlands, and Major E. Twynam, of Yalbraith—and four daughters, viz, Mrs. Cunningham, widow of the late Mr. James Cunningham, of Lanyon, Mrs. Gordon Wesche, wife of Mr. A. Gordon Wesche, general manager in Australia of the P and O.S.N. Co; Miss Twynam, and Sister Joan Twynam, R.R.C., also 13 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.