DIXON, ROBERT (1800-1858), surveyor and explorer, was born at Darlington, Durham, England, the son of John and Elizabeth Dixon. He arrived in Van Diemen's Land in May 1821 in the Westmoreland with his brother George. For two years they were employed by Edward Lord, in charge of his extensive stockyards. In 1823 each brother was granted 100 acres (40 ha) in the valley of the River Clyde and in 1824 each received an additional 200 acres (81 ha).

In July 1826 Robert Dixon sold out to his brother and went to Sydney, where in September he was appointed assistant surveyor in the Surveyor-General's Department under Lieutenant John Oxley. One of his first tasks was to survey the southern districts as far as the Illawarra, which he accomplished with the aid of an open boat. Next year he accompanied Majors (Sir) Thomas Mitchell and Edmund Lockyer in an attempt ...

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Source:

Australian Dictionary of Biography