Mapping move led to new way of life

The Central Mapping Authority came into being as part of the decentralisation push of the 1970s, which saw government departments based in Sydney make the move to the bush.

The organisation became an integral part of the community.

Not all the workers who found themselves in a small country town of 1700 people appreciated the charm of rural Australia, and many returned to their more familiar roots in the city.

Those who did stay, however, found an affordable, quiet haven, with little traffic and a tremendous community spirit. 

They threw themselves into community life, joining sporting organisations and service clubs. 

Many who were single when they arrived, married, had kids, and made a life here. 

Now those early employees are retiring and spending time with grandchildren.

One of those employees from the early days of the CMA is David Abernethy. 

He came to Bathurst in May 1976 as one of a second wave of workers hired to replace those who found country life a little too quiet, too alien. 

He was a 20-year-old trainee cartographer. His parents brought him up to Bathurst and he moved into Gordon House with the Mitchell College students. 

Mr Abernethy had been living with his parents in a small apartment at Rose Bay and he craved independence, liked country life and loved mapping.

As he settled in he came to enjoy walking everywhere. He liked the peace and quiet and found a good social environment, as people were very warm and friendly.

Like many newcomers to the city, some of his first memories of Bathurst were of frost and fog, dirt verges and going to work with mud on his pants.

You could only get one radio station, two television stations and the car trip to Sydney took four-and-a-half hours. 

“When 400 people move into a new town you have to throw yourself into it and become part of the community,” Mr Abernethy said.

“Many of the people who came out to Bathurst were single young people in their 20s.

“We set up homes, got married, stayed, had children. 

“If decentralisation happened today I think it would be a great success,” he said.

Mr Abernethy said in those early days there was a real learning environment at the CMA and that still exists today.

He said decentralising the functions carried out by CMA staff saw many scattered departments brought together under one roof. 

Initially it focused on mapping and collecting information, then in the 1980s moved into state-of-the-art digital technology. 

“Now it is number one in Australia when it comes to spatial and mapping work,” Mr Abernethy said. 

“We produced the spatial information that people use to make informed decisions. Government agencies can make a decision and know they have the right information. We were successful because we moved with the times from paper and printing to 3D.”

When Mr Abernethy retired recently he was the imaging and elevations programs manager.