Rare & Historical Maps

The Map Collection includes approximately 15,000 rare historic maps of countries and regions from around the world, the majority representing Australia. This includes some of the earliest cartographic works by explorers of Australiasia and the pacific. This collection is one of the many Cultural Collections at The University of Melbourne for education, research and the community enjoyment.

Of significance in the collection are the large number of Victorian 1st series Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) maps (1894-1952) as they contain footprints of buildings, pathways and other details. The Victorian State Library is currently digitalizing MMBW maps held there and making them available online. The second (1957-1969), and third (1972-1985) series MMBW maps are also held in the Map Collection.

Of international significance is the Ronald and Pamela Walker Collection of Maps of Asia Minor numbering 135 original maps printed between 1511 and 1774 including some of the finest cartographers of Renaissance Europe. These works are now some of the many cartographic works available online.

Try Supersearch Melbourne Universities catalogue and gateway to tens of thousands of electronic journals, hundreds of scholarly databases and other resources subscribed to by the University of Melbourne Library.

Online historical images from the Map Collection include:

1945 Photo-maps of Melbourne - online historical aerial photomaps of the metropolitan area.

Map Images Database - Images of historical maps of the World, Australia and Victoria. This dated interface is to be replaced end 2008.

The Significance Assessment documents the Cultural Collection section of the Map Collection providing details of individual items and collections of works. This document is indentedas a living working collection managementtool to progressively improve the collection and its standing for research and education in the university and levels of conservationpractices.

Ptolemy, Tablenova Asia Minoris,
2nd century

John Arrowsmith, Australia from surveys made by order of the British Government ... ,1841