Australia — East Coast, Cape Flattery to Cape Sidmouth & the Barrier Reefs (1843–48)

Australia — East Coast, Cape Flattery to Cape Sidmouth & the Barrier Reefs (1843–48)

The Admiralty chart that revealed Queensland’s northern reef coast

Before the Great Barrier Reef was understood, it was feared. Between Cape Flattery and Cape Sidmouth, the Queensland coast was a maze of coral, shoals and uncharted passages that wrecked ships and halted trade. This extraordinary British Admiralty chart, surveyed between 1843 and 1848 by the crews of HMS Fly and HMS Rattlesnake, represents the moment when this dangerous stretch of coast was finally measured, charted and made navigable.

Led by Captain Francis Price Blackwood and Captain Owen Stanley, and engraved by J. & C. Walker, this was the map that allowed mariners to pass safely through the reef-fringed waters of Far North Queensland.

This is not a decorative map.
It is the blueprint that opened the Great Barrier Reef to the world.

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⚓ What This Chart Shows

This finely detailed Admiralty sheet lays out one of Australia’s most complex marine environments.

• The northeast Queensland coastline from Cape Flattery to Cape Sidmouth

• The Great Barrier Reef plotted with extraordinary precision

• Detached reefs, shoals and coral heads

• Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depths 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 when sailing through the reef for the first time.

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🧭 Why This Chart Works

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

• Surveyed by HMS Fly and HMS Rattlesnake — legendary survey vessels

• Compiled from years of dangerous reef exploration

• True British Admiralty production — the gold standard of navigation

• Dense technical detail — soundings, shoals and safe passages

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

This is the chart that turned northern Queensland from a maritime dead end into a navigable coastline.

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✨ Premium Finishes

Every Cape Flattery to Cape Sidmouth (1843–48) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve every fine engraved line and depth figure.

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📐 Size

1000 mm (W) × 680 mm (H)
A commanding panoramic wall format that reveals the full scale and complexity of Queensland’s reef-lined coast.

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🎯 Ideal For

• Maritime and naval history collectors

• Yacht clubs and sailing institutions

• Museums and libraries

• Reef researchers and environmental centres

• Anyone fascinated by the Great Barrier Reef

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🤝 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

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Before it was a wonder of the world, the Great Barrier Reef was a deadly frontier.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that first revealed it onto your wall.