This series comprises hydrographic charts held at Queensland State Archives were prepared by the Harbours and Rivers Department and its successors, as well as the British Admiralty, Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Hydrographic Service. Initially, hydrographic charts of the [Queensland] coast were published by the British Admiralty, surveys having been undertaken by the Royal Navy. Australia's hydrographic service was subsequently formed on 1 October 1920 as a part of the Royal Australian Navy. The earliest items in this series dating from Flinders' 1802 Chart of Terra Australis, comprise copies of the Admiralty or Royal Navy charts.
Details recorded on hydrographic charts include regular water depth, positions and least depth over all shoals, wrecks, reefs, banks, etc, position of the coastline (HW and LW mark), nature of the bottom, leading lines fixed and sounded, tidal stream measurements and observations, navigation marks, lights and sailing directions, details of wrecks, etc.
While the series provides an historical survey record of the Queensland coast and major rivers and bays, it includes charts current to year 2010, both new charts and resurveys or updates.
In addition to coastal hydrographic charts and charts of bay entrance channels and reach surveys for navigation purposes, the series includes hydrographic survey plans recording improvements or works in progress, for example, dredging, test bores, reclamation, siltation, wharfage or marina proposals. Some land drawings are also included, for example, port land use and facilities.
The charts are loose and while the majority are within A1/B1 size, they vary from small foolscap drawings up to 2A0 dimensions. Original drawings are linen, tracing paper or tracing film while copies are generally photo-sensitive film.
