Virtual Museum — the history of surveying and mapping in Queensland

Survey tools

• Calculations—Earliest forms of calculations.

Cartographic foundations

• Early cartographic history—Earliest record of maps.
• Early mapping of the Australian coast—'The great southern continent' and European advancement.
• Early mapping within Australia—First maps in Australia before Queensland separation.

Associated mapping activities

• Printing—Invention of lithography.

Surveyors

• The first surveyors—Surveys around Brisbane.
• Surveyors and the Aboriginal people—Convicts untrustworthy.

Doing the survey

• Establishing Queensland's borders—Determining the Queensland - New South Wales border.

Cartographic foundations

• Early mapping within Australia—Mapping the coast and dividing the land.

Survey tools

• Circumferentor—Using the circumferentor.

Associated mapping activities

• Naming of places—Using Aboriginal names.

Surveyors

• The first surveyors—Explorers push inland and establish new settlement.
• Surveyors and the Aboriginal people—Conflict with the natives.

Doing the survey

• Camps—Tents as accommodation.
• Doing the survey—Instruments used in the survey.
• Transport—Horse and cart the prime mode of transport.

Survey tools

• Chains—First use of the perambulator and Gunter's chain.
• Perambulator—Use of the surveyor's wheel.

Associated mapping activities

• Titles registry—First dealings of land administration.

Surveyors

• Examinations and progressions—Qualifications under different Acts.
• Surveyors and the Aboriginal people—Valuable assistants.
• Verifying the surveys—Penalty for substandard surveys.
• Institution of surveyors—Inauguration.

Doing the survey

• Surveying Queensland's borders—Surveying the Queensland - New South Wales border and 'the bend'.
• Doing the survey—Surveyors' commitment.
• Food—Obtaining provisions from the land and squatters.
• Things that bite, scratch and sting—Sandy blight and nettles test surveyors' resilience.
• Too much or too little water—Difficulties encountered during floods.
• Transport—The fate of the trusty horse.

Survey tools

• Chains—Using Gunter's chain and the flat steel tape.
• Perambulator—Correcting for terrain.
• Circumferentor—Measuring direction.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—Queensland takes on surveying and mapping.
• Topographic—The state's first topographic map.
• Themed—The first general purpose maps.
• Braille—Braille technology reaches Australia.

Associated mapping activities

• Place names—Place naming given to Queensland government.
• Printing—Printing procedures for reproduction of maps.
• Titles registry—Subdivision of freehold land and their historical descriptions.
• Land Administration Commission—Commissioners execute crown land dealings.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Examinations for draftsmen introduced.

Surveyors

• Examinations and progression—Board of examiners.
• Surveyors and the Aboriginal people—Finding hidden wells.
• Verifying the surveys—Checking the work.
• Institution of surveyors—Ups and downs of the Institute.

Doing the survey

• Surveying Queensland's borders—Surveying the South Australian and Northern Territory borders.
• Camps—Temporary camps away from the main camp.
• Things that bite, scratch and sting—Flies, mosquitoes and leeches.
• Too much or too little water—Coping with little water rations.
• Transport—Transportation by boat and horse.

Survey tools

• Chains—Disadvantages of Gunter's chain.
• Chain standardisation—Establishing standards for chain and tape comparisons.
• Perambulator—Innaccuracies of the perambulator.
• Calculations—The surveyor's calculations.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—Various scale mapping series.
• Topographic—Maps resulting from a threat of war.
• Themed—Variable themes for different mapping requirements.

Associated mapping activities

• Naming of places—Continuation of Aboriginal place naming.
• Geodetic datum—County Arbitrary Meridian adopted.
• Printing—Lithographic stone copied.
• Titles registry—Prosperous land sales lead to new registries.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Depression depletes staff numbers.

Surveyors

• Examinations and progression—Authorised surveyors replace their licensed counterparts.
• Institution of surveyors—Annual dinner.
• Surveyors overseas—Respect for Queensland surveyors overseas.
• World War I (1914-1919) honour board—Memorial to serving officers.

Doing the survey

• Food—Provisions and the cook.
• Things that bite, scratch and sting—Combatting infestations of Prickly Pear.
• Too much or too little water—A recipe for producing drinkable water.
• Surveying for topographic mapping by the army—Need for maps for World War I.

Survey tools

• Chain standardisation—Towards early decimilisation.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—Vigorous growth in workload.
• Topographic—Goldfields portrayed topographically.
• Themed—Road maps in demand.
• Braille—The use of a three dimensional tactual globe.

Associated mapping activities

• Printing—Advancements in printing processes.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Drafting staff again reduced and then slowly increased.

Surveyors

• Surveyors overseas—Working in different countries.

Doing the survey

• Camps—Family camp.
• Food—A diet of fresh wildlife.
• Too much or too little water—Finding water.
• Surveying for topographic mapping by the army—World War I revitalises the need for topo mapping.
• Transport—Transportation and the motor vehicle.

Survey tools

• Chain standardisation—A standard reference constructed in Brisbane.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—New cadastral series developed.
• Topographic—States begin preparation of topographic maps.
• Themed—A demand for maps as a result of World War II.

Associated mapping activities

• Place names—Unofficial place names system.
• Aerial photography and remote sensing—The progression of aerial photography capture.
• Geodetic datum—Longitude values determined by time signals.
• Printing—Zinc plates replace stone.
• Titles registry—A new progressional numerical system.
• Land Administration Commission—The Land Administration Board is created.

Mapping tools

• Lettering—Methods of lettering.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Progression of draftsmen and quality of output.

Surveyors

• Examinations and progressions—Articled pupils.
• Institution of surveyors—Individual state institutions unite.

Doing the survey

• Camps—Changes in accommodation.
• Doing the survey—Information recorded in the fieldbook.

Survey tools

• Chain standardisation—Surveyor's current tape reference.
• Calculations—A clever mechanical calculator.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—Map numbering system and digital mapping.
• Topographic—Survey Office establishes a topographic section.
• Themed—Production of a large range of tourist maps.
• Braille—A crude map of Australia.

Associated mapping activities

• Place names—Place names act passed in parliament.
• Aerial photography and remote sensing—Australia captured in photography.
• Printing—Offset lithography.
• Titles registry—A new method of descibing historical descriptions.
• Land Administration Commission—Delegations of the Commission.

Mapping tools

• Scribe tool—Use of the scribe tool.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Institute of Cartographers established.

Surveyors

• Institution of surveyors—Name and structure change.

Doing the survey

• Doing the survey—Information recorded in the field book.
• Transport—Reaching inaccessible areas.

Survey tools

• Chains—Technological advancements in measuring distances.
• Calculations—Automated calculations.

Mapping types

• Cadastral—Digital acquisition at a rapid rate.
• Topographic—The digital march forward.
• Themed—Intense focus on the tourism industry.
• Braille—Innovative maps for measuring.

Associated mapping activities

• Place names—New place names acts passed.
• Aerial photography and remote sensing—Transition from analytical to digital technology.
• Geodetic datum—A national change of datum.
• Titles registry—Computerised collection and delivery of titles information.
• Land Administration Commission—The Lands Commission ceases.
• Printing—Digital printing workflows emerge.

Mapping tools

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—Digital spatial mapping.

Cartographers

• A draftsman's lot—Education growth.