5000 rare and unique maps are now available online

Mapmaker is William Charles Milne (1816-1863). Map dated C1853. Hand coloured engraving. Over 5,000 unique maps from the Asia-Pacific Map Collection are now available online as part of an ongoing project by The Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific. This significant portion of the college's map collection is now available on Open Research for people to download and enjoy for free. The collection is home to a variety of topographic, cadastral, aeronautical, and thematic maps, some of which date back hundreds of years.  "The earliest map dates back to 1632. It is a full map of Batavia - the old capital of the Dutch East Indies - with all its forts," said Jenny Sheehan, who manages the collection.  "We have over 120 antique maps from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, 60 of which were generously donated to us by Clive Kessler."  The collection is home to some unique, one of a kind pieces as well.  "The Roti Map is a pre-1907, hand drawn piece representing Dutch political structure, showing all villages on the island," said Ms Sheehan.