Batt, John Downton   (1843 - 1919)

John Downton Batt was born at Carmi Cottage, Central Swan, Western Australia, on 20 May 1843; died at Fremantle WA on 5 September 1919.

John's parents, Joseph Batt and Ruth Downton, lived at Curry Mallet, Somerset, prior to their migration to Western Australia between 1838 and 1840. John farmed on his own account at Tambellup, W.A., but was not particularly successful and in the early, 1880s joined the staff, probably as a linesman, of the: telegraph station at Eucla on the S.A.-W.A. line.

During the period c. 1886-96 he supplied a large number of botanical specimens to the Melbourne Herbarium, including the types of several new species additional to those of Eremophila battii, Helipterum battii and Templetonia battii which commemorate his name. He was collector of the type of Eucalyptus kruseana F. Muell. (1895)

Source: Hall, N. (1978) Botanists of the Eucalypts. CSIRO, Melbourne.

Parents migrated to W.A. 1840 [Erickson, 1987, gives 1838], settling first at Guildford, then Jarrahdale. Farmer at Tambellup, W.A.; at Eucla c. 1873-1893, working on John Muir's station until 1885; still at Eucla 1912.

Collected there extensively for Mueller, also between Dundas Hills & Lake Lefroy 1893, Fraser Ra. 1896.

Specimens at BRI, K,MEL (some numbered), NSW, PERTH.

Commemorated in Eremophila, Rhodanthe, Templetonia. Mueller also cited as J.D. & T.D. Bate.
Portrait: Landscope 13 (3) (1998) p. 37.

Source: George, A.S. (2009) Australian Botanist's Companion, Four Gables Press, WA. [consult for source references]

Collecting localities for 'Batt, J.D.' from AVH (2021)

Data from 655 specimens