Real estate or sales plans

How to search, find and access items

Our collection of 10,000 sales plans records the real estate auctions of eastern Australia, including Sydney, and the subdivision of vast tracts of land, from the 1840s to the 1930s.

Many can be viewed online, and all can be viewed at the Library.

1900 map of Circular Quay and George St, Sydney, Australia

Hardie & Gorman Pty. Ltd, Circular Quay and George St., a splendid site for stores and offices, opposite the wharves for auction sale at the rooms, 133 Pitt St, 1900, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230508873

1886 plan of Rydalmere, Sydney, Australia

Campbell, Mitchell & Co. & Thorpe & Co., Pocket plan of Rydalmere, 1886, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230181089

1926 map of Telopea Park, Canberra, Australia

Federal Capital Commission & Woodgers & Calthorpe Ltd., Residential sites Canberra Federal Territory, Telopea Park, subdivision, 1926, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232879045

1924 map of Tuross, New South Wales, Australia

Hardy, Busby & Norman & H. McWilliam, Tuross between Bodalla & Moruya for private sale H.R. McWilliam, Property Salesman, 1924, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-229906993

Search the catalogue

Search the catalogue for “sales plan” AND a place, town or suburb name.
- For example, sales plan AND circular quay
From the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, select Format, then Maps.
To view only digitised maps, use the Limit your search options to select Access, then National Library (digitised item).

Request to view the map at the Library

If the map you want is not digitised, you can request to view it in the Library.

You will need to join the Library if you want to access our special collections materials in-person. Joining is free and allows you to request collection items to use in the Library, as well as providing access to a wide range of eResources you can access from home.

To request a map

Find a map in the catalogue and open the catalogue record
Click the Request button at the top of the record
Click the Select button to select a copy
Log in to your Library account
Click on the Request button to confirm your request.

Once requested, maps are delivered to the Special Collections Reading Room for viewing.

How to order copies of maps

Once you have identified maps of interest, you can order copies of material using our Copies Direct service.

For further information, see: Copies and loans

Maps and copyright

Maps are usually published items.

Maps published in or before 1954 are out of copyright.
Maps published in 1955 or later by a government publisher: copyright lasts for 50 years after the end of the year the map was published.
Maps published in 1955 or later by a non-government publisher: copyright lasts for 70 years after the end of the year the map was published.

For further information, see: Rights and the Maps Collection.

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.

Ask a Librarian