Report on the launch of the new Geoscience Australia 250K map series.

On Monday 22nd September 2003 the newly completed 1:250 000 scale revised national topographic map series was launched at Parliament House, Canberra. For the first time in over 30 years the entire country has been mapped in one standard, systematic and up-to-date way with over 500 individual sheets. In addition to this, it was also the launch of two new digital products as Geoscience Australia fulfils the aim to provide a seamless digital mapping database of Australia.

The last time it could be said the entire country was mapped like this was in 1968 with the completion of the 1:250 000 Series R502 by the Division of National Mapping and the Australian Army Survey. This series started in the late 1950's, following a program begun during the Second World War at the scale of 4 miles to an inch. Both used aerial photography and field surveys to gather information. The present series by the new National Mapping Division of Geoscience Australia was started in 1995 and saw the use of improved technology such as satellite imagery and global positioning systems, and contracted private sector inputs. This time the series took just eight years to complete.

All 513 sheets were laid out in the Great Hall of Parliament House to illustrate the scope of the mapping task and the size of the final product, taking up about 17 square metres. All 7 660 000 square kilometres (including Tasmania) were there to be stepped on in what could be called the largest map of Australia to be assembled. As the sight of such a large map impressed the onlookers, Geoscience Australia staff hope to have the mosaic on display permanently or more likely at open days at the Geoscience Australia building at Symonston, Canberra.

Mr Gary Nairn MP, Federal Member for Eden-Monaro and himself a former surveyor, conducted the launch. He spoke of the importance of the achievement of the new products in both paper and digital formats. He also noted the contribution of several private sector mapping companies to the production of the maps.

As the digital age progresses, the demand for digital formats is increasing, with Geoscience also using the day to launch the new version of NATMAP Raster 250K. All the individual sheets for the 250K series can be viewed on the NATMAP Raster Mapsheets CDRom. The accompanying NATMAP Raster Mosaic CDRom can switch the image from a seamless topographic map to 50 metre resolution satellite imagery of the area of interest. Individual sheets can also be downloaded from the Geoscience website.

Newspaper, television and radio news were present to cover the event. Once the official launch was completed, a few inquisitive tourists to Parliament House also got the chance to retrace their epic journeys across the country.

Now that a digital database exists for the standard 250K mapping of Australia, future planned releases from Geoscience Australia include free access to 250K data in an online custom mapping facility, satellite imagery overlaid with contours, and new editions of the 250K Joint Operations Graphics Air series.

Damian Cole

Acting Senior Map Librarian

National Library of Australia