150 years of the Geological Survey of NSW

The history of the geological survey

In the late 1800s, the Geological Survey of NSW was tasked with preparing geological maps of the Colony of NSW. These maps provided information to assist in the exploration for new mineral fields and underground water resources and to collect rock and fossil samples for the Mining Museum. 

The scientific data was released in reports and publications, accompanied by a wide range of maps and plans.

Milestones and achievements

• 1875: the GSNSW published its first geological map. Compiled by C.S. Wilkinson, it covered the Hartley area
• 1879: The Museum of Mining was established. 
• 1882: The collections were devastated by fire, but rebuilt and the museum re-opened to the public in 1886 as the Mining and Geological Museum
• 1883: Discovery of the Broken Hill ore deposit 
• In the 1880s the need for many materials in eastern NSW saw surveyors (geologists) from the Geological Survey actively involved in helping the growing mining industry
• In the late 1880s and 1890s, extensive droughts saw the Geological Survey actively involved in identifying underground water supplies
• 1923: A major publication, ‘The Mineral Industry of N.S.W.’ was issued
• 1930s: Aerial mapping began and a departmental car was used in the field. The vehicle was a Chevrolet 6-cylinder roadster
• 1950s: A systematic geological mapping program began mapping standard 1:250,000 sheet areas
• 1974: The first NSW map showing structure and tectonic history based on plate tectonic theory was published
• 1995: The mining museum closed and collections were re-distributed, with the prized Albert Chapman Minerals Collection sent to the Australian Museum. The museum had been in The Rocks since 1909
• 2002: Release of MinView, a web map application making geoscientific data accessible to industry, government and the public. This award-winning product set a new standard in geoscientific data delivery and is much praised by customers
• 2004: the head office of GSNSW was relocated from Sydney to Maitland
• 2018: Release of v1 Seamless Geology, a statewide dataset that has created a paradigm shift in the way that geological maps and associated data are created and compiled.