The survey area was defined on the basis of a later plan series produced for the Armidale City Council in 1933, which was primarily designed for the purpose of sewerage works. Fortunately, these plans are quite detailed, and reveal the locations of many wells. Wells by this stage were largely defunct, as the use of reticulated water had become possible with the construction of Dumaresq dam in 1898, and the arrival of rail allowing the importation of water tanks into Armidale.

The survey area is thus limited by the extent of the 1933 sewerage system (Figure 1). This area covers a not inconsiderable amount of the urban landscape of Armidale, especially when the total extent of the city at that time is considered. Also, there are advantages to the use of the sewerage plans. The area in which sewerage services were established in 1933 is strongly correlated with urban development. It may thus be possible to show significant differences within the survey.

There are problems associated with the time lag between the introduction of reticulated water and the construction of plans. Specifically, these problems relate to wells during this 35 year period being obscured by filling, demolition and construction. If this occurred, a specific well may not have been noted when the plans were constructed. Specific examples of 'lost' wells can be cited, such as the well associated with the old gaol (Watson, pers. comm.), as well as one 'discovered' during salvage archaeology of the Coles East End site (Watson, unpublished), both missing in the 1933 plans. It is my opinion that this problem, to the greater extent, cancels itself out. Wells seem to have been as likely to have been destroyed at any place across the landscape, and thus, the 1933 plans may be regarded as a slightly impoverished, but still statistically relevant, sample of the spatial distribution of Armidale wells.

It has also proved necessary to obtain a geological background to this study, as there is a close association between geology and well locations. This was undertaken by analysis of geological maps of various scales, supplemented by some collection of field samples. Perhaps the main reason for the adoption of such a strong emphasis on geology is that it must be used to formulate data for the Armidale city hydrology. Other data has not proved to be available.