Historical Maps Collection
The Historical Maps Collection is one of the State Library of Queensland's many treasures. It comprises approximately 300 original maps, primarily of Australia and the Australasian region, dating from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. A small number of the maps show regions in other parts of the world.
This collection contains only a small amount of Queensland mapping as most historical maps of Queensland, its cities, towns and districts, are held in the John Oxley Library's collection.
The maps in the Historical Maps Collection are mainly European in origin. The earliest map in the collection dates to the mid-1500's, and shows most of Asia as it was then understood from the European perspective. It was made by the German cosmographer Sebastian Munster who produced it as part of his revised version of Ptolemy's 2nd century AD atlas, the Geographia. Prior to the early 1600's, the space on maps that Australia now fills were often occupied by depictions of mythical creatures such as a whale-like fish or a two-tailed mermaid.
Galleries
Some samples of selected gems in the collection are grouped together for you in galleries. They are found under the following sections. To view a map simply click on its thumbnail image or caption.
More information
If you have a map related enquiry, you can contact us in any of the following ways:
For general enquiries:
- Ask at your local Queensland public library
- Other libraries [new window http://www.nla.gov.au/libraries/]
Last updated: 3rd March 2008
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