Mathew Flinders

Matthew Flinders and the Mapping of Australia

This collection focuses on original antique maps and prints connected to Matthew Flinders, whose work at the turn of the 19th century established the first complete and accurate circumnavigation of Australia. Flinders’ surveys confirmed the continental nature of Australia and laid the groundwork for modern Australian cartography.

Items in this collection may include coastal charts, regional maps and printed material derived from Flinders’ surveys and their subsequent publication. These works reflect the increasing precision of British naval hydrography and the scientific approach to exploration and mapping.

Maps associated with Flinders are central to the history of Australian exploration and are valued for their documentary importance, technical quality and role in shaping geographic understanding.