When H. P. Woodward (1858-1917) resigned as government geologist of Western Australia to join the mining rush, Maitland accepted the offer to succeed him in July 1896.

He completed field-work in the gulf country before leaving Queensland in October, reaching Perth to find he had been gazetted government geologist from 1 November.

He had no professional staff but received a ministerial direction from (Sir) Edward Wittenoom to prepare a plan for a geological survey. Maitland's report of 15 May 1897 envisaged a largely self-sufficient system capable of producing topographical maps for the geologists who, in turn, would have the support of a chemist/assayer and office staff.

These services, as well as a mining record office and a public museum of geology, were to be under the government geologist, answering directly to the minister. By the time an under secretary came between him and his minister, Maitland had set a lasting style for the Geological Survey of Western Australia....