Collections and services
The Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying is located at 317 Edward Street, Brisbane. It was established in 1982, and in 1988 was officially recognised as a sub-branch of the Queensland Museum.
Land exploration and surveying has played a crucial role in the development of Queensland. Surveyors and cartographers played an active part in establishing Queensland's borders, physically surveying the land as well as creating maps, survey plans and registers.
The historical input of the surveying and mapping industry to the development of Queensland is an important factor in the role the department plays in providing a valuable resource for a wide range of community interests and government.
In its short history the museum has established one of the most comprehensive collections of its type in the world housing many important maps, survey plans and artefacts, significant to the history of mapping, surveying and land development particularly in Queensland.
We acquire, preserve, catalogue and display information and artefacts pertaining to historical land settlement, surveying and cartographic activities in Queensland.
Collection strategy
We aim to identify records, artefacts, maps and plans that are useful in filling gaps in our knowledge about the history of mapping and surveying in Queensland, and make them accessible. New material is constantly being identified as important for research purposes.
Historical collections
Our physical and digital collections include:
- historical maps and plans
- historical photographs
- aerial photography
- artefacts
- biographies of surveyors and cartographers
- documents (e.g. early Queensland Treasury rental sheets)
- publications.
Notes
- The quality of copies may vary.
- Some of our historical information has been compiled from old and possibly damaged documents.
- We have made our best efforts to ensure that the information is correctly interpreted.
- Feedback on any spelling errors etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Other services
Additional services include:
- historical mapping and surveying objects for loan
- guided tours of the Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying
- presentations relating to the history of land, mapping and surveying in Queensland.
Contact us
- Email museum@spatial-qld-support.atlassian.net, if you would like to arrange a tour of the museum or you have an item that you would like to donate to the collection.
- Visit the Museum at 317 Edward Street, Brisbane.
- Subscribe to the LandQld Facebook page for updates on exhibits.
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"Maps and charts intrude into the very fabric of peoples' lives, whether or not they are aware of it. Our society does not build, bury, move or plan, travel, navigate, teach, exploit, conserve or research without a map or chart." (Cartography, vol. 20, no. 2, December 1991).