Maps

Guide to accessing online maps and the UNSW Library print map collection.

The UNSW Library print map collection is located on Level 3, Main Library, Kensington. A summary list of the maps held with bay locations is available in the Map collection area. For assistance, ask at the Help Zone, Level 2.

You can access a number of NSW, Australian, and international maps online through government websites and various institutions.

Print maps within a series

Map series are available by searching the Library collection. Individual maps in a series may not be listed separately.

To locate a specific map from within a map series:

• Search the Library collection to see if the Library holds that map series.
• A full list of the map series held at UNSW Library with bay locations is available in the Map collection area:
  • Topographic maps - bays 12 to 19
  • Orthophoto maps - bays 20 - 24 (Note: the orthophoto maps are also available on CD and are located behind bay 20. You will still need the individual map number from the index).
• If you are unsure of the name or number of the specific map you need:
  • use one of the index maps from vertical hanging bay 9 to locate the area you are looking for
  • use Map Index NSW or Map Index Australia to locate topographic maps
  • use Map Index Sydney to locate orthophoto maps (Note: for a more detailed index of the orthophoto maps ask at the Help Zone, Level 2)
  • check the online index map or listing for that map series.
• Go to the relevant hanging bay to locate your map.

For further assistance with accessing maps from one of the map series ask at the Help Zone, Level 2.

Individual print maps

To locate individual maps that do not belong to a series:

• Search the Library collection to see if the Library holds the map.
• Refine your results by choosing Maps from Refine my results > Resource types and then Apply filters.
  
• Go to the relevant hanging bay to locate your map
  • Individual maps - bays 1 to 5.

Australian maps

• Aerial imagery
  The SDT Explorer provides aerial imagery of New South Wales. It provides tools to visualise, validate, and interact with spatial data.
• Australian atlas of minerals resources, mines, and processing centres
  Developed by Geoscience Australia in partnership with Minerals Council of Australia and Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
• Digital Atlas of Australia
  An openly available resource created by the Australian Government in collaboration with Geoscience Australia that allows visualisation and analytics tools for exploring Australia geography, people, economy and the environment through visualised data layers.
• Historical land records viewer (HLRV)
  Use this site to access the NSW historical parish, town, county and municipal maps via the Historical Land Records Viewer. There are also images of pastoral maps, which show pastoral runs from the mid-1800s.
• Interactive Maps 
  An openly available resource created by the Australian Government in collaboration with Geoscience Australia that allows access to geospatial datasets, including geological maps, minerals resources, groundwater and more. Also provides access to scientific research, reports, and publications. 
• LandScan
  A global population database which has maps and data on the global population.
• Nearmap
  Nearmap provides high quality PhotoMaps over Australian cities and towns that are updated monthly. Features include TimeView, MultiView and Terrain.
• Spatial Collaboration Portal
  Contains local, state and federal spatial data, asset management and visualisation tools. Includes Topographic Maps, NSW Basemaps, Historical, Aerial and Satellite Imagery, and spatial data including 2D, 3D and 4D models. Also includes access to Spatial Digital Twin map for an interactive experience. 
• Trove
  Search maps of Australia and the world. The maps collection includes early European charts to current mapping of Australia in digital and print form.

International maps

• Library of Congress map collections
  This resource comprises map collections made freely available by the Library of Congress. Collections include national park maps, railroad maps, American Civil War maps and many more.
• NZ Topo Map
  An interactive topographic map of New Zealand using the official LINZ's 1:50,000 / Topo50 and 1:250,000 / Topo250 maps, as well as 1:25,000 / Topo25 maps for some of the outer islands.
• Perry-Castañeda Library map collection
  A general collection of more than 250,000 maps covering all areas of the world.
• Philippe Vandermaelen: Atlas Universel (1827)
  Digitised version of Philippe Vandermaelen's Atlas Universel, consisting of approximately 380 conically projected sheets of maps and 40 pages of statistical tables in six volumes.