They lived at Medindie, where his father, who served for several years as chairman of Walkerville Council, developed a reputation as rose-grower.

[3] He was promoted to cadet surveyor the following year, working in the Clare district, and expected to take charge of the party when the supervisor was absent.

He was appointed junior surveyor in June 1866, and put in charge of a survey party, initially under supervision of W. C. Gosse.

In 1869 he was a member of his uncle, Goyder's expedition to the Northern Territory, which surveyed the land for the settlement of Port Darwin, returning by the Gulnare in September 1869.

While holding the office he occupied a number of other positions, including chairmanship of He was a member of He was awarded the Imperial Service Order in 1916.