Australia — Bass Strait, Banks Strait (1842)

Australia — Bass Strait, Banks Strait (1842)

The Admiralty chart that unlocked Tasmania’s eastern gateway

Between the islands of northeast Tasmania and the reefs of Bass Strait lies Banks Strait — a narrow, tide-swept passage that was once one of the most dangerous navigational bottlenecks in southern Australia. This remarkable 1842 British Admiralty chart, surveyed by Commander John Lort Stokes, RN, captures the moment when this perilous strait was finally measured, charted and made safe for navigation.

Engraved by J. & C. Walker and published in London in 1845, this was the working chart used by merchant ships, whalers and naval vessels threading their way between Tasmania and the Australian mainland.

This is not a decorative map.
It is the key that opened Tasmania’s eastern sea door.

⚓ What This Chart Shows

This finely engraved Admiralty sheet reveals Banks Strait in uncompromising navigational detail.

• The full Banks Strait between northeast Tasmania and Flinders Island

• Shoals, reefs and tidal channels precisely plotted

• Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depths and hidden dangers

• Coastal relief shown by hachures and spot heights

• Anchorages and shoreline features

• Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard

This was the chart captains trusted when navigating one of Bass Strait’s most treacherous passages.

🧭 Why This Chart Works

Most maps show where land lies.
This shows where ships could survive.

• Surveyed by Commander John Lort Stokes — Australia’s greatest early hydrographer

• True British Admiralty production — the gold standard of navigation

• Extraordinary technical detail — soundings, shoals and channels

• Historic authority — used by 19th-century mariners

• Museum-grade engraving by J. & C. Walker

This is the chart that turned Banks Strait from a gamble into a safe passage.

✨ Premium Finishes

Every Banks Strait (1842) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve every fine engraved line and depth figure.

📐 Size

745 mm (W) × 1000 mm (H)
A tall portrait wall format that perfectly suits the narrow, tide-swept geography of Banks Strait.

🎯 Ideal For

• Maritime and naval history collectors

• Yacht clubs and sailing organisations

• Museums and libraries

• Tasmanian heritage interiors

• Anyone fascinated by Australia’s southern sea routes

🤝 Our Commitment

• Printed in Australia with professional colour management

• Archival pigment inks for long-term stability

• Premium laminates and canvas for durability

• Natural timber hang rails for elegant presentation

• Hand-checked and carefully packed before dispatch

Banks Strait was once feared by every captain who sailed it.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that conquered it onto your wall.