Maps

Australian, and particularly Victorian, maps are the main focus of this collection, although the Library also has strong holdings of maps from overseas.

What's in the Map Collection?

Containing over 100,000 maps in various formats, this collection also includes geographical and cartographic reference books and atlases.

What's special about this collection?

A large number of 19th-century township, parish and county maps produced by the former Victorian Lands Department are a feature of this collection. There is also a significant collection of sewerage maps produced by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works from the late 19th century to the 1940s. Over 600 of these have been digitised and are available online through a custom-built interactive application via the Main Catalogue. There are several thousand real estate auctioneers' plans, as well as topographic maps from government agencies such as Land Victoria and GeoScience Australia.

This collection also has significant overseas holdings, including maps by the British Ordnance Survey, city plans, a worldwide coverage of nautical charts, and 19th-century Indian maps.

How can I view material in this collection?

Items in the Maps Collection can only be viewed by appointment in the Heritage Collections Reading Room or in some instances in the Maps, Rare Books, Children's Literature room.

MMBW Plans online can be searched via the Main Catalogue or browsed from the Main grid system plan at any time. Learn how by reading more information about the plans.