Frederick Slade Drake-Brockman, also known as Frederick Slade Brockman, (9 July 1857 – 11 September 1917) was a Surveyor General and explorer of Western Australia.
Early life Born at Seabrook near Northam in Western Australia, he was the son of Edmund Ralph Brockman, gentleman-farmer, and Elizabeth Deborah née Slade.
He was educated at Bishop Mathew Hale's schoolA. de Q. Robin, 'Hale, Mathew Blagden (1811 - 1895)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, Melbourne University Press, 1972, pp 317-319. and articled in 1878 to surveyor J. S. Brooking.
Career In 1886, Drake-Brockman joined the Department of Public Works and Railways, and worked as surveyor-in-charge of road and telegraph routes, before transferring to Lands and Surveys in 1891. He became chief inspecting surveyor in 1894, in which role he oversaw estate drainage and installation of rabbit-proof fencing. In 1901, Drake-Brockman and eleven companions explored previously uncharted areas in the Kimberley region. On the decentralisation of the department in 1910, Drake-Brockman was district surveyor for Nelson, before being appointed Surveyor-General in June 1915.Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria, 'Brockman, Frederick Slade (1857 - 1917)' Australian National Herbarium
Personal life On 20 February 1882 he married Grace Bussell, the heroine of the SS Georgette disaster of 1876. They had three daughters and four sons, including: Geoffrey (1885–1977), a civil engineer, public works official and brigadier who served in both World Wars,Peter Cowan, 'Drake-Brockman, Geoffrey (1885 - 1977)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, 1996, pp 34-35. Karl (1891-1969), a Rhodes Scholar, Captain in the 5th Royal Fusiliers, and judge Edmund (1884-1949), soldier, politician and judgeIan G. Sharp, 'Drake-Brockman, Edmund Alfred (1884 - 1949)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 339-340. Deborah (1887–1965), a mining company director and welfare worker, subsequently Lady Hackett and later Lady Moulden.Alexandra Hasluck, 'Hackett, Deborah Vernon (1887 - 1965)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Press, 1983, pp 149-150.
References
Further reading Birman, Wendy (1981) 'Drake-Brockman, Frederick Slade (1857 - 1917)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 340–341. D. H. Drake-Brockman,(1936) Record of the Brockman and Drake-Brockman Family (priv print, Sussex, 1936) G. Drake-Brockman,(1960) The Turning Wheel Perth