A NSW Government website

NSW Resources

150 years of geological discovery — a legacy of science and innovation

In 2025, the Geological Survey of NSW celebrates a remarkable milestone — 150 years of pioneering geological research, mapping, and resource management. As part of this celebration, the Survey is proudly remembering the publication in 2017 of the historic 150th issue of the renowned Quarterly Notes.

A black and white photo of a scientist looking into a microscope

Since its inception in 1970, Quarterly Notes has been a cornerstone of geological research, providing invaluable insights into NSW’s unique landscape. This special 150th issue released in 2017 reflected on decades of groundbreaking work, from advances in digital mapping to the development of seamless geological databases and the launch of the Geoscientific Data Warehouse. 

For 150 years, the Geological Survey of NSW has played a critical role in understanding our state’s unique geology. This milestone issue highlights the survey’s commitment to cutting-edge science and innovation.

The first edition of Quarterly Notes published a breakthrough study on the Billabong Creek Limestone formation. These findings revealed that the upper portion of this Ordovician limestone dates back millions of years to the Eastonian or Bolindian age. This refined dating, enabled by the discovery of new graptolite localities, enhanced our understanding of NSW’s ancient ecosystems and reinforced GSNSW’s role in advancing geological science.

This discovery adds a new chapter to our understanding of the state’s geological history, it underscores our commitment to scientific excellence, mineral exploration, and the preservation of NSW’s natural heritage.

As the Geological Survey of NSW commemorates 150 years of contributions to geoscience, it continues to shape the future with cutting-edge research and data-driven exploration - its journey of discovery is far from over.

A new edition of the Quarterly Notes will be released soon.

Join us in celebrating 150 years of the Geological Survey of NSW by exploring our history, projects, and achievements.

Read all issues of Quarterly Notes on our website.