Alexander Black
Scottish Surveyor General of Victoria
About Alexander Black
Lived 1827 – 1897 (aged 69). Alexander Black was an Australian.
Alexander Black (25 May 1827 – 13 March 1897) was a Scottish-born surveyor who worked for most of career in Victoria, Australia and was Surveyor General of Victoria for six years from 1886.
Black was born at Arndilly, Banffshire, Scotland. After training as a land surveyor in Aberdeen and working locally, he migrated to Victoria in 1852. He worked in the Castlemaine goldfields then returned to Melbourne and joined the Victorian government survey office. His work included the survey of the Black-Allan Line—the eastern "straight-edge" portion of the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria.
Black was appointed Surveyor General of Victoria on 1 July 1886 and held the position until his retirement in May 1892. He was elected a member of the Victorian Institute of Surveyors (the Institution of Surveyors Victoria) in 1877 and was president 1878 to 1880. He died in St Kilda, Victoria on 13 March 1897.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Alexander Black's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Alexander Black's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alexander Black?
Scottish Surveyor General of Victoria (1827–1897)
When was Alexander Black born?
Alexander Black was born on 25 May 1827 in Banffshire.
When did Alexander Black die?
Alexander Black died on 13 March 1897 in St Kilda.
What nationality was Alexander Black?
Alexander Black was Australian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Alexander Black (surveyor)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alexander Black. https://biography.guide/alexander-black/
MLA: "Alexander Black." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alexander-black/.
Chicago: "Alexander Black." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alexander-black/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:12 UTC