Highlights of the Published Map Collection
The State Library holds many Western Australian maps and plans in its collection, either as a series or as individual maps. They cover a wide range of dates, scales and subjects. A small selection can be found below and others can increasingly be located by searching the State Library Catalogue. Not all maps are in the Catalogue so it may be necessary to use the card catalogues to find references. Archival maps and plans can be found in the collections of the State Records Office and maps relating to the rest of Australia and the world can be found in the State Library.
[Perth and Suburbs] [map] : [Estate Maps and Plans Showing Subdivisions] / Crossland & Hardy
This is a series of cadastral maps of newly opened subdivisions. They include locality maps. They were prepared for various property developers and real estate companies.
Australia 1:100 000 Topographic Map Series [Series R611 Western Australia] [map] / Royal Australian Survey Corps and Division of National Mapping
This is a 1:100 000 topographic series covering most of the State. Relief is shown by contours, shading, and spot heights. There are various editions of some sheets. 475 sheets of the inland have not been published and are available as photomaps by purchase.
Australia 1:250,000 National Topographic Map Series. [Western Australia] [map] Natmap
This is a 1:250 000 topographic series of the whole State. Relief is shown by contours and spot heights. From 1987 some sheets include bathymetric information (issued simultaneously as part of the bathymetric map series).
The Colony of Western Australia [map] : from the Surveys of John Septimus Roe Esqr. Surveyor Genl. and from Other Official Documents in the Colonial Office and Admiralty / compiled by John Arrowsmith
Published in 1839, this map shows Western Australian Counties and routes of explorers. Insets show details of land holdings along the Swan and Helena Rivers, Guildford, Fremantle, Perth, Kelmscott, and Augusta.
Forest Maps of Western Australia 1:50 000 [map] / Dept. of Conservation and Land Management
This is a 1:50 000 forestry map series of the south-west of Western Australia showing land ownership. Relief is shown by contours and spot heights. There is an index map to the series.
Australia 1:100 000 Geological Series [map] : [Western Australia] / geology by I.M. Tyler ... [et al.] ; cartography by the Cartographic Services Branch, Surveys and Mapping Division, Department of Minerals and Energy, Western Australia
This is a 1:100 000 geological series covering the whole State. Relief is shown by contours. The maps are accompanied by explanatory booklets which are catalogued separately as books.
Vegetation Survey of Western Australia Sheet 5 Pilbara [map] / J.S. Beard
This map shows vegetation assumed to be native to the Pilbara, rivers and main roads. Other vegetation survey maps are held for other regions of Western Australia. They are accompanied by explanatory booklets.
Collection of Architectural Plans of Public Buildings and Private Residences in Perth, Fremantle and Various Country Towns [technical drawing]
These are a series of plans of 77 churches, commercial buildings, halls, etc. by architect members of the firm which eventually became Forbes and Fitzhardinge.
Western Australia. Dept of Lands and Surveys. Historic Maps Series
This is a series of maps covering the whole State except for the central Eastern Division 1880-1890s. They are divided into different series and scales depending on the area covered. They show land divisions, pastoral leases showing number, lessee and area, location numbers, reserves, tracks, roads and their gazetted dates, telegraph lines, railways and townsites, rivers, watercourses, wells, mountains and other topographical features. There is an index map to the series.
[Townsite Maps, Western Australia] [map]
This is a series of maps showing various Western Australian townsites. They cover the period 1880s-1960s and show streets, location numbers, townsite boundaries, reserves (i.e. for churches, police stations, cemeteries, schools, etc.) and sometimes location in the State.
Western Australia. Mines Dept. Mining Leases in Western Australia
This is a series of maps showing various mining centres in Western Australia in the period 1894-1934. They show mining lease numbers, townsites and goldfields' boundaries.
Australia. 1 : 63 360 Topographic Map Series [Western Australia] [map] / Royal Australian Survey Corps
This is a series of topographical maps published by the Royal Australian Survey Corps 1919-1957. They cover the south-west land division and isolated northern areas. They show topographical features such as mountains, rivers, roads, tracks, wells, etc. This is a series of maps in different scales and different editions. They show the changing patterns of land ownership from 1900 to the 1960's, showing lease numbers, location numbers, land divisions, townsites, etc. There is an index map to the series.
Port of Fremantle [map] / Hydrographic Service, Royal Australian Navy
This 1:7 500 map of the Port of Fremantle was published in 1982 and is part of a hydrographic series issued at varying intervals (1-5 years) depending on shipping traffic. Corrections are issued in "Australian notices to mariners." The series includes ocean, coastal and harbour charts showing depths, nature of the sea floor, hazards, aids to navigation, tides and currents. Some charts show topographic details of adjoining coasts.
Western Australia. Dept. of Marine and Harbours. Australia - West Coast Swan and Canning Rivers [map]
This 1:20 000 Dept of Marine and Harbours map of Swan and Canning Rivers was published in 1992 and is part of a series. It shows depths in metres and decimetres. Depths are shown by contours, gradient tints and soundings. The map includes text, illustrations and tidal information and bridge clearances as insets and in the margin.
Page last updated: Sunday 12 August 2012
