The Dixson map collection

This 1819 manuscript map traces the Hunter River from Newcastle. It has been annotated in pencil, noting where there is good soil, fine grassland or swampy ground.

Governor Macquarie had journeyed to Newcastle in July of 1818 and explored the Hunter region, naming several landmarks. Macquarie notes in his journal, 'This is a very beautiful and Picturesque River, and has sufficient depth of Water in it as far as I have gone up it for a Vessel of 50 Tons Burthen, and the Land on its Banks being excellent, it is in every respect fit for establishing Settlements on.'

Three insets showing local buildings, one being Christ Church, Newcastle, an untitled building and one map entitled 'Entrance to Port Jackson, 1819'.

Digital order no: a1528629

In 1797 Lieutenant John Shortland explored the Newcastle region, north of Sydney, while searching for escaped convicts. He described the Hunter as ‘ a very fine river ’. However, for many years the harbour was considered difficult with a number of navigational hazards created by shallow sandbanks and the treacherous nature of the channel between Nobbys Head and the mainland. In the early years of settlement attempts were made to create a breakwater across this channel. It wasn’t until the 1830s that serious plans were made to create a permanent barrier. In 1849 the Colonial Engineer, George Barney, prepared a report on the Harbour. This Rough sketch of Newcastle Harbour shewing the Breakwater was prepared to accompany the report. This is a unique manuscript sketch of Newcastle harbour from the collection.

Digital order no: a1528640

This is a hand coloured plan showing the sands between the beach and harbour in Newcastle in 1850. In 1852 Captain John Bull was appointed as Superintendent of Works at Newcastle Breakwater. Bull supervised the building of the breakwater using stone excavated from Nobbys Head using convict labour. The height of Nobbys Head was reduced from 62 metres to 27.5 metres by the excavation work.

Digital order no: a1528723

Dedicated to 'the Right Honourable the Earl Bathurst, K.G. one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State', this John Oxley map illustrates the early discoveries made into the interior of New South Wales. It was published in London by the well-known map publisher, Aaron Arrowsmith. This map encompasses the area from Moreton Bay to Port Phillip, and illustrates the exploring routes of William Howe, Meehan, Evans, Cunningham and Oxley between 1817-1823. These men were explorer-surveyors who travelled into the inland of New South Wales and mapped the western river systems. Oxley's map is remarkably detailed, providing lengthy descriptions on the land, the topography and the extent of water available, in some cases, the barren lack of water and the poor quality of soil.

Digital order no: a128457

Dedicated to Captain Phillip Parker King R.N, this map of eastern New South Wales shows the nine counties, with notes and descriptions. Included are eleven views of 'Sidney' [sic] and the coast which were ascribed on the previous 1825 edition to J.W. Lewin. Cross's map was included in James Atkinson's Account of the state of agriculture & grazing in New South Wales, published in London in 1826. Intended to encourage British immigration by highlighting the beauty of New South Wales and the opportunities open to settlers, this publication focused on 'observations of the soil and general appearance of the country, and some of its most useful natural productions with an account of the various methods of clearing and improving lands, breeding and grazing live stock, erecting buildings, the system of employing convict and the expense of labour generally and the mode for applying for grants of land, for those who are about the emigrate to that Country'.

Digital order no: a928438

Diamond Swamp Creek in the County of Roxburgh is a northern tributary of the Fish River, flowing south through good agricultural land which had been taken up by a number of landholders such as Lawson and Mitchell in the early 19th century. The original land grants were located on the right bank of the Macquarie River in 1818, according to Governor Macquarie's plan for the settlement.

In 1825, Lord Bathurst had issued instructions regarding land policy that the colony was to be divided into counties, hundreds and parishes. Consequently the Bathurst district was divided into townships with blocks on which the scale of land grants to free settlers was determined. As part of this policy, new land boundaries were created. The counties of Bathurst and Roxburgh were created and the dividing line between these two was the Macquarie River. Part of the town of Bathurst lay on the right side of the river was named Kelso and was subsumed into the County of Roxburgh.

Digital order no: a3883001

Published by Aaron Arrowsmith in 1798, this map details a section of the south eastern coast of Tasmania from South West Cape to Maria's Island. It traces Captain John Hayes' expedition in 1794 in the two British ships, the Duke of Clarence and of Duchess of Bengal. Intending to explore New Guinea, he was prevented by strong winds and decided to explore New Holland. Reaching Adventure Bay in April he left Van Diemen's Land on 9 June. During this time he discovered and named the Derwent River, Risdon Cove and Cornelian Basin. This map features Bruny Island, however Hayes gave it the name William Pitt's Isle. Unknown to Hayes, the French expedition of Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteaux had been in the region exploring, charting and naming it only two months prior to Hayes.

Digital order no: a3784001

In 1824 the Van Diemen's Land Company was formed to develop a pastoral and agricultural settlement in north west Tasmania ( then known as Van Diemen's Land). The Company architect and surveyor, Henry Hellyer, arrived on 4 March 1826 in the Cape Packet with other officers of the Van Diemen's Land Company and the first settlement was established at Circular Head.

This ink and wash map, dated September 1828, documents the survey made by Hellyer on behalf of the Company. It includes the tracks of Hellyer and Joseph Fossey in 1827 to 1828 and shows the topography from Pipers to Duck Rivers and inland to Cradle Mountain. It describes the terrain and significant landforms including the peak they climbed on 14 February 1827, appropriately named St Valentine's Peak.

Although Hellyer's initial assessment of the land was positive the land around St Valentines Peak was sub-alpine, featuring long, wet and bitterly cold winters. The native snow grass lacked nutrition and in the first few winters over 5000 sheep died of cold and malnutrition. Henry Hellyer committed suicide in 1832.

'Where tinted yellow it indicates a Grassy Country consisting of Plains without Trees or Open Forest. The Red tint shews the Roads for Carts and cattle which the Company have made into the newly discovered Territory. The Green spots show The Company’s principal stock stations and Establishments at the present moment. The Blue Tint - Water and Lakes. The dotted Lines show the tracks of exploring Parties.' A note on the top left of the map, near the Duck River, states that 'Mr Longmar surveyor unfortunately drowned in crossing Duck River, April 1827 on his return from the west coast'

Digital order no: a3506001

In 1824 William Hilton Hovell (1786-1875), and Hamilton Hume (1797-1873) set out from Hume's property near Gunning on an overland expedition to Westernport. On 16 December 1824 they sighted Corio Bay in Port Phillip, which they believed to be Westernport. Their journey opened the way for the settlement of Port Phillip.

No original map documenting the journey has survived. This manuscript map of the journey is believed to be a copy possibly sketched by Thomas Mitchell from a rough sketch provided by Hume to Mitchell following the completion of the journey. The arrows mark both the outward and return journeys. Sir William Dixson acquired the map through Thomas Mitchell's grandson. The Library holds additional information on the journey including Hovell's papers from 1811 - 1875.

Digital order no: a1528603

This is a cadastral map showing buildings, allotments, reserves and some physical features of the town of Brisbane. This map appears to be based on the manuscript map sent as an Enclosure to Governor Gipp's Despatch no. 100 of 1 July 1839.

Digital order no: a1528881

Augustus Charles Gregory was employed by the Surveyor-General, John Roe in Perth in 1841 and was promoted to Assistant Surveyor. Working outside of Perth, Gregory was employed in surveying areas marked out for roads and towns.

After several successful exploring expeditions north of Perth, Gregory was selected to lead a scientific expedition of the north of Australia consisting of eighteen men in 1855-56, financed by the British Government and sponsored by the Royal Geographic Society in London.  One of the aims of this expedition was to discover the extent of natural resources in the north of the country.

Starting out at Moreton Bay, the expedition travelled over 11,000 km by sea and land, up the Victoria River from it’s mouth in the north-west of the Northern Territory, traced Sturt’s Creek for almost 500 km, hoping it would end in an inland sea; however it filtered out into desert. They then ventured east and explored the Elsey, Roper and Macarthur River systems, crossed and named the Leichhardt River and then travelled back to Brisbane via the Flinders Burdekin, Fitzroy and Burnett Rivers.

These maps show the topography along the route taken by North Australian Exploring Expedition, from Point Pearce, up the Victoria River and 300 miles along Sturt Creek, ending in the Sandy Desert.

Additional maps from the Gregory expedition can be viewed via the Library's catalogue:

North Australian Expedition : Sheets lX to Xlll

North Australian Expedition, 1855, additional version of Sheet II

Vertical sections on the route of the North Australian Expedition

Digital order no: a1343001

Sheet 2 of 5

Digital order no: a1343002

Sheet 3 of 5

Digital order no: a1343003

Sheet 4 of 5

Digital order no: a1343004

Sheet 5 of 5

Digital order no: a1343005