Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying facts for kids
The Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying is a cool place in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. You can find it at 317 Edward Street. This museum collects and shows off old tools, maps, and pictures. These items tell the story of how Queensland was measured and mapped. It's part of the bigger Queensland Museum. The museum also puts old maps and aerial photos online for everyone to see.
What the Museum Collects
Exploring and mapping land was super important for Queensland to grow. People called surveyors and cartographers helped set Queensland's borders. They measured the land and made maps, plans, and records.
The museum has gathered a huge collection of important maps, plans, and old items. These things show how mapping and surveying helped Queensland develop. The museum finds, keeps, organizes, and displays these items. They all relate to how land was settled, measured, and mapped in Queensland.
Historical Items You Can See
The museum has many items, both real and digital. These include:
- Old maps and land plans
- Historical photos
- Pictures taken from the air
- Old tools and objects
- Stories about surveyors and mapmakers
- Important papers (like old Queensland Treasury records)
- Books and publications
History of the Museum
In 1982, the Queensland Government decided to create this museum. The Surveyor General of Queensland, JM Serisier, wanted to save the history of mapping and surveying. The first museum was in the Land Administration Building. Bill Kitson was in charge of setting it up.
With help from the government and mapping experts, Bill Kitson started collecting old items. Technology was changing fast, and old tools were disappearing. The museum's collection grew to include diaries, artwork, photos, and life stories. These items showed the personal side of mapping. Many old maps of Queensland were also collected.
In 1987, the museum moved to a new building called the Landcentre in Woolloongabba.
To keep the items safe, an agreement was made in 1988. The Queensland Museum became the official keeper of the collection. The government still provides staff to run the museum.
In 1991, the museum's focus became wider. It was renamed the Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying. This new name included the history of land development in Queensland.
In 2018, the museum moved again. Its new home is at 317 Edward Street in the Brisbane CBD.
In 1905, an artist named Oscar Fristrom made a statue (a bust) of Augustus Charles Gregory. He was the first Surveyor-General of Queensland. In 1906, Fristrom tried to sell the bust, but it wasn't bought. For many years, the bust was displayed in Cairns. In 2018, it was given to the museum. Today, you can see this bust at the entrance of the museum.
See also
- Surveying in Australia
