Maps, Place Names and Land Records
National
Geoscience Australia's Place Name Search searches the Gazetteer of Australia with 310,000+ Australian geographic names. Search results are linked to a map.
The National Library of Australia's Map Collection holds 600,000+ maps and 2,500 atlases. Over 6,600+ maps are digitised and available online. Other resources include Guides to aerial photographs, cartographic links, cadastral maps and gazetteers of Australia.
Mapco.
This site offers free access to Australian state (NSW and SA), city
maps and views. Currently items available include the Plan of the
Settlements NSW 1796, various collections of views and maps of Adelaide
(1836-1929) and maps of Gallipoli (1915).
Fairfax Walkabout Australian Travel Guide. The Australian A- Z gives detailed information on the location, history and attractions of over 1500 Australian towns and cities. A very useful site.
Legal Terms in Land Records. This American site has an alphabetical list, plus meanings, of many of the legal terms that appear in deeds and legal proceedings relating to land. Please note that terminology is not totally consistent with Australian legal usage. Quite a few terms on the list are not used in Australia, a few have a different meaning and some uniquely Australian terminology is missing. Updated
The National Library of Australia, Maps of Australia site enables a geospatial search of catalogue records for over 100,000 maps of Australia held in Australia's libraries. There are about 4,000 digitised maps available and there is the option to limit searches to digitised maps only.Australian Capital Territory
ACT Planning & Land Authority. Click on Maps, land and survey data for access to a searchable database of the origins and meanings of Canberra's suburb and street names.
New South Wales
Department of Lands, New South Wales. Click on Survey and Maps then Maps and Imagery, then Parish and Historical for access to the Parish Map Preservation Project. This project offers online access to digitised historical parish, county, town, municipal and pastoral maps for New South Wales.
Department of Lands, Spatial Information Exchange (SIX). The SIX viewer enables users to integrate and view a wide selection of NSW spatial datasets, including property, cadastral and topographic information, satellite data and aerial photography. Some browsers and operating systems are not supported by this system so read the Important Information for New Users.
State Records New South Wales, Indexes Online to Land Records include Colonial Secretary's letters relating to land 1826-1856; closer settlement and returned soldiers transfer files 1907-1936 and 1951; returned soldier settlement miscellaneous files; court of claims relating to land 1833-1835; Surveyor General's maps and plans 1792-1886; surveyors' field books 1794-1860 and surveyors' letters 1822-1855.
State Library of New South Wales, Map Collection, Subdivision plans of Sydney and NSW towns. These lithographed land sale posters date from the 1880s to 1930s and are valuable chronicles of the past, recording the subdivision and development of land, and changes in land ownership. The full image is available with excellent, easy to use zooming facilities.
State Library of New South Wales, Map Collection, Digitised Detail Sheets (727) for Sydney and some suburbs. These detailed maps were produced by the Surveyor General (1880s-1890s) for sewerage purposes. They show street blocks with outlines of all buildings, street numbers of premises, sewer shafts and manholes. Full image are available with easy to use zooming facilities.[Call no. ZM Ser 4 811.17/1]
City of Sydney Council's online access to A Guide to Sydney City Street Names. This guide can be downloaded as a MS Exel file. It lists street name; status (C current street, R renamed, D disappeared); location, postcode, map and grid reference plus brief information about name origins, gazettal dates and cross references to other street names.
Homestead Leases by Rusheen Craig. Originally land in Far West of NSW was divided into vast pastoral holdings. In 1884 homestead leases were introduced and a person could apply for a 'small' 10,240 acre homestead lease. The onlines indexes to homestead leases cover 1885-1914 and the Western Land Leases indexes cover 1903-1910.
Northern TerritoryPlace Names in the Northern Territory.
Queensland
Queensland Place Names Online Search.
Queensland State Archives online indexes include Land Selections prior to 1884 with name searches available for selections (1868-1884). Index to Mineral Leases (1871-1940) lists name and QSA references. Further details are available from QSA for a fee.
Rockhampton Map. A surname searchable map showing early Rockhampton land owners (1863)
South Australia
Place Names Online, South Australian State Gazetteer with online searching. Land Services Group with information on the Lands Titles Office, the records held and services offered. There is a Searching Family History section.
Family History South Australia. South Australian Land Purchases by Credit Selection. A searchable database of 17,000+ credit selections 1869-1890. Updated
South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society's South Australia Place Name Database. A search returns the place name plus region and local government authority.
VictoriaVICNAMES Register of Geographic Names lists 190,000+ place names and is searchable online.
Public Record Office Victoria Digitised Land Records include the Treasurer's Correspondence Relating to Pastoral Runs (1838-1855).
The Land Channel. This Government site provides integrated access to land, resource and property information and services for the State of Victoria.
Western AustraliaLandgate details online title searches, aerial imagery and maps. There is information on the history of country town names plus metropolitan suburb and street names.
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© Cora Num 1997-2010. Last updated 30 May 2010