Story: Early mapping

Frederic Carrington’s survey chain

Frederic Carrington’s survey chain

This survey chain belonged to Frederic Carrington, who laid out the site of New Plymouth in the early 1840s. Survey chains were used to measure distances. They consisted of 100 iron links and were one of many pieces of equipment early surveyors had to carry with them. A ‘chain’ became a standard unit of measure (66 feet or 20.12 metres) in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library
Reference: A77.364

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How to cite this page:

Melanie Lovell-Smith, 'Early mapping - Mapping for settlement', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/10792/frederic-carringtons-survey-chain (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Melanie Lovell-Smith, published 24 Sep 2007