Find and request an Australian topographic map

Which map sheet/s?

Map series indexes are used to find and request post-1900 topographic maps of places in Australia.

Once you have decided upon a particular series, a map series index allows you to identify individual map sheets. It shows the sheet number, and whether the Library holds a partial or complete set of maps in that series.

If you are onsite at the Library

Indexes are available in the Special Collections Reading Room.

1. Select the appropriate series index, and find the map sheet/s covering the location of interest
2. Type the Bib ID (marked on the index) into the online catalogue to find the record; click the title to open the record
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the record and click on ‘Request’
4. Specify exactly which map sheet/s you would like to view, for example “SD52”

Geoscience Australia index to national 1:100 000 topographic map series. Also shown on this index are sheet numbers for 1:250 000 and 1:50 000 series.

Detail from index to national 1:100 000 topographic map series, showing the Bib ID (unique number) for the Australia 1:100 000 series in the Library's catalogue.

If you are accessing the catalogue from outside the Library

Indexes for all Australian topographic series are available online. Search the catalogue to find the relevant series as follows:

1. Enter the search terms “Australia”, "topographic" and the scale into the catalogue search box and click Search; in the results, select the format 'Map' from the 'Limit your Search' dropdown menu. If you are searching for a 1:25 000 map series, use the State as a search term.

   For example:

   “Australia AND topographic AND 1000000” with format ‘Map’ yields these results

   "Australia AND topographic AND 63360" with format 'Map' yields these results

   "New South Wales AND topographic AND 25000" with format 'Map' yields these results

2. Select an appropriate series
3. Use the online index to identify the sheets/s of interest
4. Click 'Request' or scroll down to the ‘Request this item’ box at the bottom of the record; click on ‘Select’ and log in
5. Specify exactly which map sheet/s you would like to view, for example “SD52”; click 'Request'

Most, but not all series have an index that should show the scale, call number and some sort of series title or serial number. Some indexes will not have co-ordinates clearly marked on them. In this case try to compare the index to a general map or atlas to estimate which sheet covers the location.