Australia — Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reefs to Torres Strait (Sheet II, 1860)

Australia — Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reefs to Torres Strait (Sheet II, 1860)

The Admiralty chart that revealed the northern reef passages

For centuries the Great Barrier Reef was a lethal maze for ships — a wall of coral and shoals stretching across Australia’s entire tropical coastline. This remarkable 1860 British Admiralty chart (Sheet II) shows the moment that barrier was finally decoded.

Compiled by Frederick John Evans, Master RN, from the surveys of Flinders, Blackwood, Owen Stanley, Yule and Denham, and engraved by J. & C. Walker, this chart revealed both the inner coastal route and the outer deep-sea passage through the Coral Sea to Torres Strait — the vital gateway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

This is not a decorative map.
It is the blueprint that opened northern Australia to global shipping.

⚓ What This Chart Shows

This powerful Admiralty sheet lays out the reef and ocean routes with extraordinary clarity.

• The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea from Queensland to Torres Strait

• Inner and outer shipping routes through the reef system

• Detached reefs and coral shoals plotted with precision

• Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe water and danger zones

• Coastal relief shown by hachures and spot heights

• Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard

This was the chart captains relied on to survive one of the most complex marine environments on Earth.

🧭 Why This Chart Works

Most reef maps show where coral lies.
This shows where ships could pass.

• Compiled from half a century of surveys (1802–1860)

• True British Admiralty production — the gold standard of navigation

• Reveals both coastal and oceanic routes

• Critical to mail ships, naval patrols and trade

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

This is the map that turned the Great Barrier Reef from a barrier into a navigable highway.

✨ Premium Finishes

Every Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reef (1860) Admiralty Chart — Sheet II is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the fine linework and depth figures.

📐 Size

1000 mm (W) × 670 mm (H)
A wide panoramic wall format that reveals the scale, complexity and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

🎯 Ideal For

• Maritime and naval history collectors

• Yacht clubs and sailing institutions

• Museums and libraries

• Reef researchers and environmental centres

• Anyone fascinated by Australia’s maritime frontier

🤝 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

The Great Barrier Reef once stopped the world’s ships.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that conquered it onto your wall.