The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Davidson, William Montgomery Davenport
Davidson, William Montgomery Davenport, J.P., Surveyor-General, Queensland, was born at Richmond, Surrey, in 1830. He was educated at the Moravian School in Yorkshire, and afterwards at the Stockwell Grammar School, which is connected with King's College, London. Mr. Davidson then went to the College of Civil Engineers, where he took his diploma. He left England for Tasmania in 1852, going over to Victoria the same year. He returned to Tasmania in 1854, and was appointed Inspecting Surveyor for the southern part of the island. In response to an invitation from Mr. A. C. Gregory, who was then Surveyor-General, he went to Queensland in 1861, and was appointed Staff Surveyor. In 1868 he became District Surveyor, a position he held until June 1st, 1875, when he accepted the post of Deputy-Surveyor-General. In Dec. 1889, on the resignation of Mr. Tully, Mr. Davidson exchanged this position for that of Surveyor-General. He is a J.P. for Queensland.