Co-executor of his father's Will
Named as a beneficiary in his mother's Will (1898)
Named in the Will of his brother Henry Fisher Cambage (1930) as deceased
----------------------------
He was educated at state and private schools, and for a short time was a teacher at the Milton state school. In 1878 he became an assistant to M. J. Callaghan, surveyor, and took part in the survey of National Park in 1879 and 1880. He qualified as a licensed surveyor in June 1882, was engaged in the lands department for three years as a draftsman and then entered the department of mines as a mining surveyor. He had great experience in this capacity and in 1902 was appointed chief mining surveyor. He held this position until 1 January 1916, when he was made under-secretary of the mines department. He retired from the public service on 7 November 1924. Though a busy public servant he contrived to carry on a large amount of other work and cultivated many interests. Front 1909 to 1915 he lectured on surveying at Sydney technical college, was on three occasions elected president of the Institution of Surveyors, and was for 15 years a member of its board of examiners. He had early become much interested in geology and botany, and between 1901 and 1903 contributed to the Linnean Society a series of "Notes on the Botany of the Interior of New South Wales" of which as "Notes on the Native Flora of New South Wales", a further long series was published over a period of more than 20 years. He was secretary of the Royal Society of New South Wales from 1914 to 1922 and from 1925 to 1928 and was president in 1912 and 1923. He was a member of the council of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from 1906 and was its president in 1924. He was honorary secretary of the Australian National Research Council from its inception in 1919 until 1926, and organized the second pan-Pacific science congress held in Melbourne and Sydney in 1923. He was its president from 1926 to 1928 and he was elected president of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science In 1928. He was also president of the New South Wales forest league and did much work for the Australian wattle league. His amiability and tact made him an invaluable secretary and president, but in spite of the time spent on administrative work Cambage was able to make valuable contributions to science. For many years he systematically planted seeds of acacia, and at the time of his death had contributed 13 papers to the Journal of the Royal Society with descriptions of 130 species, and he also did some papers on the eucalypts. As a member of the Royal Australian Historical Society his knowledge of surveying and bushcraft enabled him to throw light on the journeys of some of the early explorers. A paper on Exploration Beyond the Upper Nepean in 1798, was published separately as a pamphlet in 1920. He died suddenly on 28 November 1928.
He was created C.B.E. in 1925. A list of his papers will be found in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales for 1934, pp. 445-7.
Cambage was an amiable man of many enthusiasms, interested in cricket, which he had played well in his youth, in music, and in every aspect of nature. He was an excellent public official. and as a scientist he was recognized as an authority in more than one branch of botany; few people had such a wide knowledge of the flora of Australia. His administrative work in connexion with scientific societies was a remarkable record of public service. 6
----------------------------
"CAMBAGE.November 28, 1928 (suddenly), at his residence Wyaglan, 49 Park road Burwood, Richard Hind Cambage (late Under Secretary for Mines), son of the late John Fisher Cambage, of Milton."
----------------------------
Will of Richard Hind Cambage late of Burwood, Gentleman, written 29 Jan 1898, probate 12 Feb 1929.
[slightly abridged]
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me RICHARD HIND CAMBAGE of Burwood near Sydney Surveyor I NOMINATE and APPOINT HENRY SKILLMAN of Arncliffe Inspector of Schools and AMY THOMPSON Spinster of Wyaglan Park Road Burwood Executors and Trustees of this my will. I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my son ARTHUR STANLEY CAMBAGE the sum of nine hundred pounds to be held in trust by my Trustees and invested in Bank deposit scrip paying him the annual income therefrom the principal to be paid to him as follows five hundred pounds on his attaining the age of twenty one years two hundred pounds at twenty two years and the remaining two hundred pounds when he reaches the age of twenty three years I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my daughter MABEL FANNY CAMBAGE the sum of one thousand nine hundred pounds to be held in trust by my trustees and invested in Bank deposit scrip paying her the annual income arising therefrom the principal to be paid to her as follows five hundred pounds on his attaining the age of twenty one years two hundred pounds at twenty two years and the remaining two hundred and fifty pounds when she reaches the age of twenty three years I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my daughter MURIEL CAMBAGE the sum of one thousand pounds to be held in trust by my trustees and invested in Bank deposit scrip paying her the annual income arising therefrom the principal to be paid to her as follows five hundred pounds on his attaining the age of twenty one years two hundred and fifty pounds at twenty two years and the remaining two hundred and fifty pounds when she reaches the age of twenty three years I give and bequeath to my son GEOFFREY CAMBAGE the sum of nine hundred pounds to be held in trust by my Trustees and invested in Bank deposit scrip paying him the annual income therefrom the principal to be paid to him as follows five hundred pounds on his attaining the age of twenty one years two hundred pounds at twenty two years and the remaining two hundred pounds when he reaches the age of twenty three years If either of my children shall die before attaining the age of twenty one years then the interest on the legacies hereinbefore mentioned shall be annually divided equally between the survivors and the principal paid in equal shares on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years after paying the before mentioned legacies I GIVE AND BEQUEATH the whole of my interest and share in the Residuary estate of the late John Fisher Cambage of Milton and all moneys due at the date of my decease or becoming due to me from that estate to my two sons ARTHUR STANLEY CAMBAGE and GEOFFREY CAMBAGE in equal shares to be received by my trustees and invested in trust the income arising therefrom to be paid annually to my said sons and the principal on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years after which dates each shall receive all moneys direct from the estate In the event of the death of either before he attains the age of twenty one years all moneys received on his behalf at the date of his decease or becoming due to him by virtue of the before mentioned bequest from the estate of the late John Fisher Cambage to be received by my trustees and invested by them in trust for my two daughters MABEL FANNY CAMBAGE and MURIEL CAMBAGE in equal shares paying them annually the income arising therefrom and the principal on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years after which dates each shall receive all moneys direct from the Estate. And if either of my said daughters shall die under twenty one years of age then the survivor attaining that age shall be entitled to both shares I GIVE AND BEQUEATH unto my said trustees UPON TRUST my family residence and premises known as Wyaglan and situated in Park Road Burwood and all lands attached thereto being Lot four and part of lot five of Threlkeld's Subdivision Parish of Concord County of Cumberland to be dealt with in the following manner My house and land attached to be sold at any time within twenty years from the date of my decease and in such manner as my said Trustees shall deem most expedient either by Public Auction or Private Contract and upon such terms and conditions as my Trustees shall think fit with power to buy in the said premises or to rescind or vary the terms of any contract which may be entered into and to resell the said premises at any future auction or by Private Contract without being answerable for any loss which may be consequent thereupon And to do and execute all such acts deeds transfers conveyances and assurances as may be necessary for effectuating such sale And after paying all expenses in connection with such sale I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to AMY THOMPSON of Wyaglan Park Road Burwood aforesaid (if then living) from the proceeds of such sale the sum of eight hundred pounds to be paid to her by my trustees as soon as practicable after the sale is effected. To my son GEOFFREY CAMBAGE the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds to be held by my Trustees in trust the income arising therefrom to be paid to him annually and the principal when he attains the age of twenty one years or in the discretion of my trustees at any time when he is between the ages of seventeen and twenty one years Any remainder of the proceeds of sale to be divided equally between my children ARTHUR STANLEY MABEL FANNY and MURIEL aforesaid if all living or if one or more have died without issue then between the survivors or survivor but if any one of them has died leaving issue then such grand child or grand-children living at date of sale to receive its or their parent's share And in the same manner the whole proceeds of sale after paying all expenses in connection therewith shall be divided should the aforesaid AMY THOMPSON and my son GEOFFREY CAMBAGE have died before the receipt of the legacies of eight hundred pounds and two hundred and fifty pounds respectively specified for them But if only one of them has died then the legacy to which that one was entitled shall be divided equally between all my children living at time of sale and any grand child or grand children who may be entitled to its or their parents share as hereinbefore set forth Prior to the sale of my house and grounds before mentioned ... one half of the income arising from this property shall be paid to AMY THOMPSON aforesaid the remaining half to my children in equal shares.... I ALSO GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my son ARTHUR STANLEY CAMBAGE my piano watch and chain iron safe ten volumes of Chambers Encyclopedia and the whole of my camp equipment including horses waggonette theodolite chains and all other goods and chattels which may form part of my camping equipment at the date of my decease I ALSO GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my daughter MABEL FANNY CAMBAGE my billiard table dining room clock my best double bed with fittings complete Giekies text book of Geology Tennyson's poems the large chest of drawers and the sewing machine I ALSO GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my daughter MURIEL CAMBAGE my wardrobe one of my best single beds with fittings complete side board in dining room large picture known as "Scratch Padk" Kendall's poems and bedroom clock I ALSO GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my son GEOFFREY CAMBAGE the small chest of drawers one of the best single beds with fittings complete the book shelves and cupboard My large Shakespeare Gordon's poems my Masonic Jewel writing desk and large picture of Arthur Mabel and Muriel I ALSO GIVE AND BEQUEATH to AMY THOMPSON aforesaid one double bed with fittings complete the couch and looking glass in my bedroom picture called "The Stag at Bay" and linen cupboard And as to the remainder of my furniture and effects and all the rest residue and remainder of my estate real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature soever I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the same respectively unto my said trustees UPON TRUST to divide between my children in such manner as to my trustees shall seem fair and equitable I hereby expressly declare that every apportionment by them by virtue of the last named bequest shall be binding and conclusive to all intents and purposes on all the persons interested I HEREBY FULLY AUTHORIZE my Trustees to collect all moneys due to me or becoming due to me from any and every source whatsoever including all debts legacies shares and moneys invested or deposited in any Bank or Company or lent upon Promissory Note Mortgage Bill of Sale or any other contract and from such moneys collected after payment of my just debts .... all specified legacies my trustees of this my will may out of the residue of such moneys which shall come to their hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid re-imburse themselves respectively.... Any surplus left after making the before mentioned payments to be divided equally between my children living at such time or times when it is possible for my trustees to make such division And with regard to the firstmentioned legacies of nine hundred pounds to each of my sons ARTHUR STANLEY and GEOFFREY and one thousand pounds to each of my daughters MABEL FANNY and MURIEL should either of my said sons or daughters die after he or she has attained the age of twenty one years I HEREBY AUTHORIZE my trustees to pay all moneys which may be due or become due to such deceased son or daughter .... to such person or persons or dispose of it in such manner as such deceased son or daughter may by his or her last will or any codicil thereto appoint ..... And I EXPRESSLY DECLARE that as often as the Trustees hereby appoint or either of them or any Trustee to be appointed under this power shall die be desirous of being discharged from or refuse or become incapable to act in the Trustee hereby in them reposed it shall be lawful for their Trustees or Trustee for the time being to appoint any other person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in the place of Trustee or Trustees so dying [etc]... And upon every such appointment the said Trust premises shall be thereupon vested by such assurances or other acts as the circumstances of the case require.... IN WITNESS whereof I have to this my will written on this and the seven preceding sheets of paper subscribed my name at Burwood aforesaid this twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety eight.
R. H. CAMBAGE
SIGNED and declared by the said Richard Hind Cambage the Testator at the end thereof as on each of the seven preceding sheets of paper as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us ... who ... have hereto subscribed our names as attesting witnesses:— Arthur Henry, Registrer in Bankruptcy, Sydney, New South Wales. Martha Henry, Parramatta, New South Wales.
12th February, 1929. On this date, Probate of the last will of the above-named deceased was granted to Amy Thompson of Burwood, near Sydney, Spinster, the executrix named in the said will (the executor named therein having predeceased the Testator). Testator died on the 28th day of November in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty eight.
Estate sworn at £14710.12.2. Net. 7
Research Notes: