In the early 1800s, the inconsistency and inaccuracy in measurement standards between Britain and the Colony plagued the import and export industry. Taxes on the importation of goods were heavily affected by the inaccuracies in measurement. Neither Britain, nor the colony, had a uniform standard of measurement, and weights and lengths were measured differently throughout both countries.

This standard measure was used by Captain Henry Kater in the adjustment of the imperial standard measures of Great Britain. Kater was an English physicist and inventor. In 1814 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London where he took a special interest in the design of standard weights and measures. He worked along side Sir Joseph Banks and Thomas Young to experiment using measures and weights, and devise methods of taking accurate measurements

In 1824 Britain streamlined its measurement standards to the use of just three main terms; an imperial yard, the imperial Troy pound, and a gallon. Brass standards were made to represent these measures and replicas were distributed to the colony. Kater worked closely with London's most significant scientific instrument makers to produce copies of the new imperial standard, which he had helped dictate.

Kater also made a number contributions to astronomy, including devising a method for graduating circles and the inventing the floating collimator. He was also widely acclaimed for his work determining the best kind of steel and form of compass needles.

This standard measurement bar was donated to Sydney Observatory by Henry Kater's son in 1873. The Observatory has a long history of assisting Australia to keep accurate time and measurement. This standard bar remains of national significance due to its pioneering role in Australian and British science and its association with Australia's earliest surveyors, scientists, and astronomers.

Reference:
Jan Todd, For Good Measure, the making of Australia's measurement system, Allen and Unwin, Australia, 2004 pg 27
http://www.measurement.gov.au/
Holland, J., 'Pioneer of Precision; Captain Henry Kater, FRS', http://www.usyd.edu.au/museums/whatson/exhibitions/kater1.shtml
Macmillan, D. S., The Kater family, 1750-1965, The Kater family?, Sydney, 1966
Holland, J., 'Pioneer of Precision; Captain Henry Kater, FRS', http://www.usyd.edu.au/museums/whatson/exhibitions/kater1.shtml
Lomb, N., 'Earnshaw's Excellent Timekeepers', in Davison, G., Webber, K., 'Yesterday's Tomorrows; the Powerhouse Museum and its precursors 1880-2005', Powerhouse Publishing, 2005
Forwarded to H. M. Secretary of State by Despatch, No. 141, 1847, Federation and Meteorology, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/1541.html


Written by Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator, November 2007.