Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (9 September 1841 – 5 March 1934) was a New Zealand surveyor, engineer and explorer.

[1] His father found that life in the new colony with two young sons was challenging, and they were sent to their uncle, Reverend Charles Dobson, the vicar of Buckland in Tasmania, where they stayed for three years.

His remaining siblings were born in New Zealand: Robert (1852–1893), Emily Frances (1857–1943), Herbert Alex (1860–1948) and Collet Barker (1861–1926).

[5] As his father had been appointed Canterbury provincial engineer in 1854, the financial situation improved, and the boys were sent to Christ's College, then the best school in Christchurch.

[1][3] An early task for the father and son team was to determine the depth of mud in Lyttelton Harbour.

[1] Arthur Dobson spent several months surveying in North Canterbury, reaching Lake Sumner and the Hurunui River.

His area of work extended from the Grey River to Abut Head, and inland up to the Main Divide.

Arthur Dobson returned to Christchurch and reported his findings to the chief surveyor, Thomas Cass.

[3] Cass then commissioned Arthur Dobson in 1864 to find out whether there is a suitable pass from the Waimakariri watershed to the West Coast.

While George surveyed road lines there, Edward and Arthur proceeded to explore the high country.

Edward Dobson was commissioned to examine every possible pass to the West Coast from the watersheds of the Waimakariri, Taramakau and Hurunui Rivers.

[3] The provincial government decided that a road was to be built between Christchurch and Hokitika, a distance of 156 miles (251 km), and Edward Dobson was put in charge of the project.

The following year, he explored the Motueka and Karamea districts,[1] and surveyed a track over the Mount Arthur Range.

[3] In April 1869, he became the district engineer for the West Coast gold fields that were located within the Nelson Province, with him being based in Westport.

While still employed by the Nelson Province, he was put in charge of railway construction in Westport by the government in October 1872.

[7] His first son Arthur George Dobson, Selwyn County engineer, died on 17 January 1905 (aged 37) after having been thrown from a cart.