Robert+Hoddle

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Born on April 1794, Robert Hoddle was the son of a clerk of the Bank of England. In 1812 Robert Hoddle became a candent-surveyor for the army and served them for nearly 10 years for Great Britain.

Robert Hoddle started to sail in the William Penn on April 1823 and arrived at New South Wales in July.

In 1824 he accompanied John Oxley on an expedition to Moreton Bay where he helped build Brisbane. By some he was regarded as one of the most competent men in the department – by others he was scorned for scarcely being able to spell.

Robert Hoddle arrived in Port Phillip on March 1837 and was made the surveyor. Someone else also wanted this position and his name was Robert Russell. It is not known if Robert Hoddle used Robert Russell’s ideas, but Robert Russell said that he had laid out the township before Robert Hoddle got there. Robert Hoddle created a grid of streets and lanes, both simple in design and simple to navigate. It endures today as a model city framework unlike Sydney where people just settled anywhere. Robert Hoddle was known for road planning. His great boulevards leading out of the city still bear witness to his special ambition for Melbourne and remain part of his heritage. Some of the roads that he made were St Kilda Rd, Sydney Rd, Victoria Parade, Wellington Parade and Hoddle St., in Collingwood.

In 1844 Robert Hoddle marked a tree by the Yarra River as his reference point for the survey of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. By October 1845 Robert Hoddle had worked with Charles La Trobe for one year. He did clash with Charles La Trobe and retired one year later with 1000 pound annually, a tidy sum in those days. He must have been a feisty person as he had previously threatened his resignation with Governor Gipps but was reinstated and went on to plan Williamstown and Geelong. Hoddle built his own fine home at the corner of Spencer St and Bourke St. He lived there until 1860, tending the trees and garden in retirement, when the hill was levelled for the expansion of the railway station.

His wife Mary died in 1862 and in 1863 just a year later he re-married an eighteen year old daughter of Captain Benjamin Baxter. They had three daughters and one son. He also had a daughter from his previous marriage.

Hoddle died on 24 October 1881 will be known not only as a great surveyor with great vision and imagination for Melbourne, but as a creative man who loved books, made translations from Spanish to English as well as being an accomplished musician playing organ and flute. His painting today still hangs in the State library although in poor condition 


 * What we think of Robert Hoddle:**

Robert Hoddle was a very clever man; his thoughts about a well-planned city are still relevant today. The idea of all streets being in a grid allows for easy navigation and orientation. It wouldn't have been very exciting walking about the streets and alleys measuring them all one by one.