Historical maps are a rich source of information when you are researching your house history. Maps often contain information about your house or local area not available elsewhere.
Research tips
- Maps cover different time periods and come in different formats so consider how you will organise the various map downloads, links, PDFs and printouts.
- Putting your maps in date order enables you to see how your suburb and street evolved, but it is often easier to start in the recent past and work backwards.
- Printed maps can appear online in more than one repository and they may have differences. For example, they may have handwritten notes or updates added at dates subsequent to publication. The same map may also be in better condition in a different repository.
- Maps can be complicated and may need special skills to 'read' them. Reading the support and help files on the various websites will enhance your ability to use these resources correctly.
Maps
There is a broad array of maps covering the City of Sydney local government area which trace its evolution from the first European settlement to today. Many of these maps are now online. Below are listed some of the key map collections available online. This list is also available on Trove.
Subdivision plans
Subdivision plans are a rich source of information for the house historian. Subdivision plans are held at a range of repositories including the State Library of NSW, the National Library of Australia, the City of Sydney Archives and Land and Property Information (LPI).
A selection of digitised Auction and Sale Lithographs 1865-1935 for the city area is available on Archives and History Resources.
A Plan Book from Alexandria Municipal Council has been digitised. It contains some subdivision plans for the district, along with engineering drawings relating to the formation of roads in Alexandria.
To find subdivision plans in the State Library of NSW catalogue, type the name of your suburb. Some of these catalogue records include a list of all the subdivision plans held for that area including their date and street boundaries.
Some subdivision maps and plans held at the National Library of Australia are also digitised. Search the catalogue using the keywords subdivision plan and the name of your suburb; narrow your search to maps.
Parish maps
NSW Land Registry Services is responsible for the legal registration of documents relating to ownership of land and property in NSW.
Historical land ownership was recorded on parish maps. These maps are essential records of early land ownership in NSW.
It is important to know the county and parish in which you live to use the land title records. Everyone in the City of Sydney local government area lives in the County of Cumberland.
The parishes within the County of Cumberland are:
- Petersham
- St Andrew
- St Philip
- St Lawrence
- St James
- Alexandria
To find out what parish your property is located within, you can check your current title, or you can use the Geographical Name Register to search by suburb. Information provided will include the parish name. The county and parish names and boundaries have not altered since they were established.
The NSW Land Registry Services Historical Lands Records Viewer is the online tool you can use to access digitised historical parish maps, along with thousands of other digitised plans, land titles and indexes.
To understand the range of digitised land records available through the Historical Lands Records Viewer (HLRV), along with tips and access, see the NSW Land Registry Services list of Historical Records Online and their search guides. An explanation of parish maps and how to use them (PDF) is also available from NSW Land Registry Services.
The State Library of NSW has produced a 4-part webinar called Historic Land Records Viewer (HLRV) Fundamentals. These videos introduce the major record series contained in HLRV, including Old System grants and title deeds, Torrens Title and parish maps. Highly recommended viewing before leaping into the HLRV.
The County/ Parish Maps Guide from NSW State Archives provides an overview of county and parish maps, which may also help you to understand the parish maps now available on the NSW Land Registry Services Historical Lands Records Viewer.
Find out more parish maps and other maps and plans held in NSW State Archives list of maps and plans.
Next: Post office directories →