Turner was a visual observer at the 48" reflector at Melbourne Observatory (the last with speculum mirror, erected in 1869). He made most of the drawings published in Ellery, R. L. J., Observations of the Southern Nebulae made with the Great Melbourne Telescope from 1869 to 1885, Melbourne 1885 (p. 25). The other observers were Baracchi, LeSueur and MacGeorge.

Melbourne Observatory and 48" f/41.7 Reflector

Turner's drawings of southern nebulae