Agent TypePersonIdentifierUMA-AG-000000349Place of BirthKennington Common, LondonPlace of Death283 Burnley Street, Richmond, Victoria, AustraliaActivities & OccupationsArchitectsArtistsSurveyorsGenderMaleHistoryOn 10 September 1836 Russell was appointed surveyor to the infant settlement at Port Phillip and he arrived with a group of officials in the Sterlingshire on 5 October, accompanied by his assistants, Frederick Robert D'Arcy as draughtsman and William Wedge Darke as chainman; he was also to be commissioner of crown lands.
Russell's first surveys were in the Geelong and Werribee areas, but in general his work was not considered to be characterized by enough alacrity.
A topographical feature survey of the Melbourne site was produced (and later lithographed in England) on his own initiative, but his horses were unready for further expeditions. On this survey Robert Hoddle drew the standard grid plan, after he superseded Russell upon his appointment as surveyor-in-charge on 1 May 1837. Russell was obliged, after one false start overland, to return to Sydney to complete surveying commitments and while there he made a series of drawings of the city's environs in the style of Martens.
He returned to Melbourne about 30 March 1838, as clerk of works with architectural responsibilities. A contentious and discordant government career continued until 18 June 1839 when he was removed from office. Amid discontent on both sides Russell entered into more remunerative practice as architect and, primarily, surveyor.
![[Map shewing (sic) the site of Melbourne … 1837]](/img/placeholder.gif?1735518749 "[Map shewing (sic) the site of Melbourne … 1837]")