1845 Map of Aberdeen

Hi there,

The old map is fairly accurate.  Actually the 1964 Aerial photo looked very much the same except for the Aberdeen bay side.  After seeing this map I totally understand why it was called Shek Pai Wan (石排灣) as there is really a pile of rock in the middle.  The old main road today more or less ran along the previous coast line.

Best Regards,

T

It's interesting to see the depth soundings and the fact that the harbour rarely extends below 10 metres.

I wonder who Mount Johnston was named after. Possibly AR Johnston, who took over from Elliot as acting governor in June 1841 (according to Eitel).

Yes, A R Johnston would be the most likely candidate.

Also just noticed that he has a chapter to himself in Endacott's Biographical Sketchbook of Early Hong Kong, which notes that he was in charge of HK during the building of bridle path to Aberdeen.

Phineas Ayres, the Colonial Surgeon, speculated in 1896 that Aberdeen police station, which was notoriously unhealthy, would never been better whilst the lagoon to the east of Aberdeen exists. I'm struggling to work out what/where the lagoon is. Any ideas, please?

 Does this refer to Staunton Creek,which was pretty foul well into the 1960s.

Yes, you can see it on the top corner of the map above. Pretty sure that would be it.

I do not think the charts of 1845 vintage used metric, more likely fathoms. One fathom = six feet.

rehide@hongkongescape.org 

www.hongkongescape.org