Sydney by decade
Below is a selection of maps highlighting the changes to Sydney and the Cumberland Plains from the 1770s through to the 1960s.
They have been selected from the State Library's extensive map collections that are being gradually digitised to provide online access. A more extensive range is available through our catalogue.
The Cumberland Plain is a region in the Sydney Basin which extends from Windsor in the north, to Picton in the south; and from the Nepean-Hawkesbury River in the west to Sydney City's Inner West in the east.
1770s
Sydney
1770: Sting-Ray Bay now known as Botany Bay.
1780s
Sydney
1788: William Bradley's Sydney Cove, Port Jackson.
1788: A rare early engraving of the first settlement at Sydney Cove. Created by a convict, Francis Fowkes.
1790s
Cumberland Plain
1796: Shows the areas selected in Cumberland County for 'principle cultivation and farming'.
1792: Nautical chart showing Cumberland County harbours, heads, bays and the location of fresh water.
1793: Early impressions of the Cumberland Plain describing the quality of the land for cultivation.
1799: Grimes' and Flinders' topographical plan of the settlements of NSW.
1800s
Sydney
1802: Leseur's 'Plan de la ville de Sydney'. Map provides a key to locations including the 'Magasin des liquers fortes et salaisons'.
1807: Copy of Meehan's plan of Sydney with a key for leaseholders.
1810s
Sydney
1816: Land around Government House, showing also Mrs Macquarie's seat.
Cumberland Plain
1814: Burr and Ballisat's plan showing Crown grants of land. This map is accompanied by a list of grantees.
1815: This copy of Grimes map has been annotated with French place-names by explorer Louis de Freycinet.
1817: James Wyld's map listing the quality of, as yet, ungranted land.
1820s
Sydney
1822: Key sites and public buildings as well as outlines of buildings.
1821: A sketch of the town of Sydney that shows public buildings, private houses and 'an excellent Town Quay'.
Cumberland Plain
1828: St John in the Hundred of Parramatta.
1830s
Sydney
1837: Sydney Relief Map to accompany letter to Surveyor General on sewerage and drains.
Cumberland Plain
1831: Sketch showing allotments and road used by inhabitants beyond Cooks' River.
1835: The 13 'Hundreds' were gazetted in 1835. Usage of this administrative division of land was abandoned in the 1880s.
1840s
Sydney
1842: Copy of an 1842 Plan of South Sydney with allotment sales of the Redfern estate.
1843: Wells' beautifully engraved and detailed map of Sydney.
Cumberland Plain
1844: Baker's plan shows parishes and police districts and geographical features such as 'Bondi Bay'.
1840: Well's map includes some property owners' names and acreage.
1850s
Sydney
1853: Mitchell's trigonometrical survey of Port Jackson showing developments to the east and the north of the city.
1854: Identifies important locations, outlines of buildings and the railway, which opened the following year.
1858: Part 1: Illustrates the expansion of the city and includes roads, railways, public buildings and reserves.
1858: Part 2: Illustrates the expansion of the city and includes roads, railways, public buildings and reserves.
Cumberland Plain
1854: Smith & Hinton's map showing outlines of buildings and city wards. Includes a key to 45 places.
1859: Mitchell's Basin of the Nepean showing the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment area.
1860s
Sydney
1865: Morell's proposed plan of the Harbour's defences provides an insight into Sydney's fear of raids by Britain's rivals.
1868: Plan of the Naval reception for the Duke of Edinburgh.
Cumberland Plain
1864: Wells' map showing land grants, railways and parish boundaries.
1870s
Sydney
1873: This map contrasts the town of Sydney of 1802 with the city of Sydney in 1873.
1873: Plan of the Circular Quay with proposed wharf accommodation.
1875: Illustrates the growth of the city's infrastructure.
Cumberland Plain
1872: Principal postal 'towns', their population and geological information as well as telegraph lines, roads and railways.
1876: Sand's six mile circuit map of Sydney and suburbs.
1880s
Sydney
1888: A bird's eye view map of Sydney that reflects the city's expansion and industrial growth.
1889: Plan of the municipality of Redfern including built structures, sewers and street lamps.
Cumberland Plain
1884: Nautical chart of Port Jackson created by the British Hydrographic Department.
1888: The incidence of cholera and other diseases are shown on this map.
1890s
Sydney
1891: Sketch map of Sydney and inner suburbs showing existing and proposed tram routes.
1894: One of a series of colour coded block plans of stores and warehouses, this one with related letter.
1894: Block plans annotated with fire-related features such as structural materials, location of staircases and water mains.
Cumberland Plain
1894: Shows tramway lines and stopping places, ferry routes and landmarks.
1897: Population distribution in County Cumberland.
1900s
Sydney
1905: Pictorial bird's eye view map showing places of interest and ferry routes.
1906: Part 1: Sydney CBD business directory with index to individuals, businesses and government buildings.
1906: Part 2: Sydney CBD business directory with index to individuals, businesses and government buildings.
Cumberland Plain
1900: Shows projected tramways, main roads and ferry routes.
1910s
Sydney
1910: Map used to monitor fire alarms and hydrants.
1911: Shows wharves erected, proposed, altered and demolished and rat proof retaining wall.
Cumberland Plain
1913: Royal Commission recommendations for the Constitution of Greater Sydney.
1913: Another bird's eye view of Port Jackson and greater Sydney.
1919: Bird's eye view of Port Jackson and greater Sydney.
1920s
Sydney
1923: Shows proposed 'North Shore Bridge', and underground railway lines proposed and under construction.
1924: Sydney's wharf accommodation.
1925: 'North Shore Bridge' now under construction. Railway lines, tramways and ferry routes also shown.
1927: Martin Place extension, land to be resumed.
Cumberland Plain
1921: Population distribution of the County Cumberland.
1926: Proposed reconstruction of the main roads of the County of Cumberland.
1928: Sydney and suburban railways and tramways.
1930s
Sydney
1932: Iconic memento map issued for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
1935: Bird's eye view map by renowned Sydney artist, Adrian Feint.
1940s
Sydney
1940: Fire Underwriters' association: a useful source for names of buildings and their owners.
1944: Locations of hostels and recreation for Allied Service personnel shown.
1944: Guide map to Sydney produced for British servicemen.
Cumberland Plain
1940: Index to suburbs and municipalities giving population and number of dwellings.
1948: The County of Cumberland Planning Scheme - a plan for post-war growth.
1948: County of Cumberland Planning Scheme presentation copy with signatures.
1950s
Sydney
1952: Includes a list of the streets and lanes of Sydney.
Cumberland Plain
1951: County of Cumberland Planning Scheme general representation.
1952: One of three sheets of a more detailed view of the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme.
1958: Greater Sydney's daily traffic reveals some surprising statistics.
1960s
Sydney
1960: Sydney's water supply system showing reservoirs, channels, tunnels, pipelines and catchment areas.
