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 ...