A Gunter’s Chain, an old land surveying instrument, is named after its inventor, Edmund Gunter (1581-1626), an English mathematician and astronomer. It was first produced in 1620. The tool has 100 links and is 66 feet or one chain long. The links are marked off in groups of ten by metal tags or rings. A quarter chain (25 links) is called a rod or pole and ten chains make a furlong and 80 chains a mile. The traditional cricket pitch is 22 yards or one chain long. This chain is said to have been used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was constructed in the 19th century. Gilbert Nicol was an early settler in Warrnambool who, with John Craig, established the first hotel (and the first building) in Warrnambool in 1847. Nicol later owned the property ‘Rosehill’ in the Warrnambool area. As the chain was given to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society by the Town Clerk, Keith Arnel, it is likely that the chain was one of the items in the old Warrnambool MuseumThis Gunter’s Chain is of importance because it is an early land measuring device that was used for over 250 years and has great historical and mathematical significance. If it is correct that it was used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was built then it has considerable local significance and dates back to the 19th century. This is a metal tool which consists of 100 metal pieces or links joined together by loops at each end with two metal loops in between each link. The links joined together form a chain. The two ends of the chain have small metal handles attached. At intervals along the chain there are additional rings or metal pieces attached. The metal is very rusted.gunter’s chain, land measurement tools, history of warrnambool

Before metric measurement was introduced land was measured in chains and links. The chain was a precision part of a surveyor's equipment. It required frequent calibration, yet needed to be sturdy enough to be dragged through rough terrain for years. A standard survey chain is 66 feet (or 20.117m) long and made up of 100 links. Each link is 7.92 inches (approximately 201mm) long, measured from the inside of the loop. The handles are for tensioning the chain in use, they are not part of the length of the chain. In pre-metric units, there were 80 chains to 1 mile (equals 1.609km) This surveyor’s chain has an 8-inch link pitch, with markers at 10 link intervals. This metal surveyor’s chain (or Gunter's Chain) has an 8-inch link pitch, with markers at 10 link intervals, and handles at either end. A Surveyor’s Chain was 66 feet long, and made up of 100 links connected by two rings. A link in measurement includes the two rings at each end. gunter's chain, survey chain, surveyor s chain, perch, rood, surveying

Before metrication was introduced into Australia in the 1970s land was measured in chains and links. Many old parish plans show length measurements in chains and links. Area was shown in acres, roods and perches. Gunter's chain was used for measuring distance in surveying. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter (1581–1626). Gunter developed the measuring chain of 100 links. The chain and the link, became statutory measures in England and subsequently the British Empire. After metrication units of length were measured in meters and area in hectares. The chain was later superseded by steel ribbon tape.The 66-foot long (1 chain) Gunter's Chain was a fundamental instrument for land surveying. It is divided into 100 links (each 7.92 inches long) which are marked off into groups of 10 by brass tags with 'fingers' to indicate 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 links from the hand grips, thus simplifying intermediate measurements. Each end of the chain is fitted with a brass hand grip. It was heavy and sturdy enough to be dragged through the bush and over rough terrain on surveying transects. Giving rise to the common forestry term "chainman" for the person tasked with dragging it. 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards = 66 feet = 792 inches = 4 rods, poles or perches. 10 chains = 1 furlong 80 chains = 1 mile 1 acre = 10 square chains = 4 roods = 160 square rods, poles or perches.forest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

This Gunter’s Chain, an old land surveying instrument, is named after its inventor, Edmund Gunter (1581-1626), an English mathematician and astronomer. It was first produced in 1620. The tool has 100 links and is 66 feet or one chain long. The links are marked off in groups of ten by metal rings or tags. A quarter chain (25 links) is called a rod or pole and ten chains make a furlong and 80 chains make a mile. The traditional cricket pitch is 22 yards or one chain long. This Gunter’s Chain is of considerable significance because: 1. It is an early land measuring tool that was used for over 250 years and has great historical and mathematical significance. A Gunter’s Chain would have been used when forming and building local roads from the earliest days of settlement. 2. It has a possible local connection as it was given to the Historical Society by a local person in 1965 and possibly came from the property of ‘Rosehill’ This is a metal tool which consists of 100 metal pieces or links joined together by loops at each end with two metal loops in between each link. The links joined together form a chain. The two ends of the chain have small metal handles attached At intervals along the chain there are additional rings or metal pieces attached. Some white and green rope material has been used to bundle up the chain. The metal is somewhat rusted. gunter’s chain, land measurement tools, history of warrnambool

Before metric measurement was introduced land was measured by a tool of chains and links called a surveyor's chain. The first surveyor's chain was designed by the English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter (1581-1626) and introduced in 1620. It comprised of a metal chain made up of 100 links measuring a precise overall length of 66 ft or 22 yards, with each link measuring 7.92 inches (201.168 mm). The Gunter's chain was originally intended to be used in the accurate laying out and measurement of plots of land, for legal and commercial purposes, but was subsequently widely used by surveyors throughout the British Empire and Europe, with an Imperial mile being 80 times the Gunter's chain length. A tool used to survey the land before the introduction of the metric system.Surveyor chain Gunter type, 100 links measuring 66 feet in length. Hand grips at each end of chain. Wire links are approximately eight inches long. Incised tags or markers are attached to each tenth link of chain to assist with the more accurate recording of intermediate distances.surveying tool

Gunter's chain (also known as Gunter’s measurement) is a distance measuring device used for surveying. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter (1581–1626). It enabled plots of land to be accurately surveyed and plotted, for legal and commercial purposes. The provenance of this particular Gunter Chain is unknown but it is believed to be used either by the City of Bendigo / Sandhurst or the Lands Department locally when measuring and laying out plots and streets locally. A 66-foot (20.1 m) chain divided into 100 links, marked off into groups of 10 by brass rings or tags. Each link is 7.92 inches (201 mm) long. A quarter chain, or 25 links, measures 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) also called a a rod (or pole) measure. Ten chains measure a furlong and 80 chains measure a statute mile. city of greater bendigo surveying

Used for measuring distances in the forest. Steel bands (out of tradition were called the chain) were created around 1890. They replaced the traditional Gunter chain. The band could be repaired by soldering slip-on joiners and than and recalibrating.Steel measuring band (50m) on plastic reel with winding handleFCV 281forests commission victoria (fcv), assessment, forest measurement, surveying, mapping

Used for measuring distances in the forest. Steel bands (out of tradition were called the chain) were created around 1890. They replaced the traditional Gunter chain. The band could be repaired by soldering slip-on joiners and than and recalibrating.Steel measuring band (50m) on plastic reel with winding handle missingFCV 188forests commission victoria (fcv), assessment, forest measurement, surveying, mapping

Used for measuring distances in the forest. Steel bands (out of tradition were called the chain) were created around 1890. They replaced the traditional Gunter chain. The band could be repaired by soldering slip-on joiners and than and recalibrating.Steel measuring band (1 chain - 66 feet) on metal reelFCV 075forests commission victoria (fcv), assessment, forest measurement, surveying, mapping

There had been timber assessments in Victorian State forests since the late 1920’s, coinciding with arrival of the three Norwegian foresters. The program was accelerated during the post-war housing boom. It was driven by the push eastwards away from the Central Highlands to find timber resources after the 1939 bushfire salvage was completed. Spending time in the field with assessment branch was a “rite of passage” for many young forestry graduates leaving Creswick. The work was arduous, and measurements were taken with simple and robust equipment like gunters chains, prismatic compass, Abney levels, barometers and clinometers. Data was recorded by hand onto waterproof paper. The Statewide Forest Resource Inventory (SFRI) project began in 1993 and followed a few years after the release Timber industry Strategy. The aim was to bolster the existing 1:25000 scale mapping and improve the accuracy of the volume and growth estimates for the forest estate. This scary looking gadget looks like a speeding radar used by the cops. The LTI Criterion Survey Laser and Rangefinder was a powerful instrument that could measure and record tree height, diameter at any visible point up the tree. It was used to identify and map tree faults such as branches, scars and knots and to calculate tree taper functions. When used correctly, it has an accuracy of better than 1% for height and diameter. It could also measure survey information such as asmuth, distance and elevation. It was expensive back in the day (more than $20,000) and heavy. This one turned up when the retired foresters were cleaning out Beechworth museum in July 2025. It’s now at Altona and recorded in Victorian Collections Criterion Survey Laser with box and batterysurveying, forest measurement

8651.1 - Rusty measuring device.

8652.1 - Slightly rusty chain measuring device.- JG

8653.1- Rusty measuring chain. 8653.2 - Rusty measuring chain.

8654.1 - Very rusty measuring chain with frayed rope binding it together.