News » Tribute to Founder - John Monteath (1922 - 2007)


At the age of 72 (1994) John had retired from Monteath & Powys for seven years when he decided to revamp, "Legal Aspect of Boundary Surveying as Apply in NSW".

It was not as if he had nothing to do, but John Monteath was a man who, if he saw that something had to be done, he made sure it got done.

He spent the next 10 years as Honorary Publishing Editor of the Hallman Text overseeing five new editions that grew from 300 pages to 850 pages.

John Morrison Monteath, O.A.M. Hon. Fellow ISAust and the founder of Monteath & Powys, died recently after a life time devoted not only to the surveying profession but to the community as a whole.

For 28 years he organised the reunion of his classmates from the 1939 Fifth Year at Fort Street Boys High School.

John Monteath commenced his article with the Department of Main Roads in 1940 and when war broke out became a member of the Survey Corps, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class.

In 1941, after Japan declared war, the generals and admirals discovered the only maps they had of Cape York Peninsula were those drawn by Matthew Flinders in 1802.

The Survey Corp mapped four million square kilometres of Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Included in this task was the mapping of the Kokoda Trail before the 39th Battalion could start their famous trek.

In 1948 John Monteath became a Registered Surveyor and in 1950 commenced the practice in Newcastle.

He was the inaugural secretary of the Hunter Manning Group of Surveyors, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and was secretary/treasurer and group representative to the Divisional Committee between 1957 and 1963. In 1965 he was elected a Fellow of the Institution of Surveyors, Australia.

His commitment to the wider community was widely acclaimed. John was a member of Newcastle Legacy for more than 50 years and served two terms as President.

In 1965 he was appointed to the board of Royal Newcastle Hospital and was deputy chairman from 1968 -1979 and chairman from 1979 to 1981.

During this time, the Royal grew to become the second largest hospital in New South Wales.

It was also during this time that the famous old Beach Hotel, a favourite drinking spot for staff from the Royal and from the nearby Newcastle Herald and Newcastle Sun Newspapers, was demolished to make way for the Clinical Sciences Building.

The impending demolition upset a lot of patrons but John could not understand what the fuss was all about, after all he was a teetotaler.

Despite his busy life, he played golf every Saturday morning with his mates, rain, hail or shine.

In 1987, at the age of 65 John retired but immediately set about teaching several illiterate adults how to read and write.

Despite retiring, he served two terms as President of the Institution of Surveyors in NSW, and it was during this time the successful business plan was developed that saw the NSW division restructured.

He continued his association with the Federal Council of the Institution and from 1990 to 1998 represented NSW, serving on several committees.

In 2002, he was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Surveyors Australia and in 2004 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his achievement and work for the community.

Not long after, he was moved into the Amity Nursing Home because of failing health.

His wife and son, Robert (current Monteath & Powys Director) visited John at the Amity Nursing Home. As they approached his room a nurse remarked "Oh, are you here to see the Chairman of the Board."

John was working and organising until his last breath! Farewell John Monteath!!