Queensland and NSW Encroachments

Due to various historical anomalies, several stations and properties that are officially part of Queensland are below the 29 degrees South parallel. Three of these can be seen easily on Google Maps near Cameron Corner [ [http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-29.040563,141.543732&spn=0.806823,1.159058&t=h&z=10 Google Maps view of the area] ]

The cause of this has been traced to surveyors errors [ [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/museum/articles_complete/surveying/border.html] ] , variously due to differences between the Francis Edward Roberts and Isaiah Rowland survey between 1863 and 1865 and other surveys performed since then. The first discovery of incorrectly allocated land was in 1884 when surveyor Johnson was instructed to survey a 40-acre Conditional Purchase (No. 83–10) adjacent to the border at Tweed Heads for the NSW Government [ [http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/_media/lands/pdf/surveyor_generals_directions/QldNSWBorder.pdf See Page 11] ] . The area he surveyed had already been allocated and marked by the QLD Government surveyors.

Other issues include historical land grants. Areas surveyed by F. E. Roberts were discovered, in the 1930s to have been allocated incorrectly by the QLD Government. After attempts in 1933 to have the area resumed by NSW, the NSW government decided that as the incorrect survey had been accepted by both governments, it was unlikely to win in any court case, and accepted these areas as part of QLD. The Queensland Government resumed 20 areas from 10 titles totalling approximately 4 hectares of land that extended across the 29 degrees South parallel. [ [http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Search/ItemDetails.aspx?ItemId=662049 Only available on Microfilm] ] [ [http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/_media/lands/pdf/surveyor_generals_directions/QldNSWBorder.pdf See Page 12] ]

Due to the rural area and small size of these encroachments (20 acres), this hasn't caused any significant or legislative issues as has occurred previously with other border encroachment issues globally [ [http://www.hotelnepal.com/nepal_news.php?id=1239 Bhutan accuses China of Encroachment] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/134643.stm Saudi Arabia and Yemen Encroachments] ] or nationally, such as the South Australia-Victoria border dispute.

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