Australia — South Coast, Port Phillip (1836–1856)
The Admiralty chart that made Melbourne possible
Before Melbourne rose into one of the British Empire’s great cities, there was Port Phillip Bay — a vast, sheltered inland sea hidden behind a treacherous entrance. This extraordinary British Admiralty chart, surveyed by officers of HMS Rattlesnake in 1836 and continually refined through 1856, captures the moment when this unknown bay was transformed into a working harbour for a new nation.
Drawn from the surveys of Lieutenants Thomas Symonds and H.R. Henry, with later additions by Commander John Clements Wickham, Captain John Lort Stokes, and Master R.N. C.J. Polkinghorne, and engraved by J. & C. Walker, this was the chart that guided the first waves of settlers, traders and gold-rush ships safely into Victoria.
This is not a decorative map.
It is the birth certificate of Melbourne as a port.
⚓ What This Chart Shows
This finely engraved Admiralty sheet reveals Port Phillip Bay in full navigational detail.
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The entire Port Phillip Bay — from the Heads to the inner anchorages
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The main shipping channels and shoals
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Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depths and dangers
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Coastal relief shown by hachures and spot heights
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Harbour anchorages and shoreline features
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Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard
An enlarged inset of the entrance channel provides extra precision where captains needed it most.
🧭 Why This Chart Works
Most maps show coastlines.
This shows how ships actually entered them.
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Surveyed by HMS Rattlesnake — one of Britain’s great survey vessels
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Continuously updated over 20 years as the colony grew
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True British Admiralty production — the world’s gold standard
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Extraordinary technical detail — soundings, channels and anchorages
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Museum-grade engraving by J. & C. Walker
This is the chart that turned Port Phillip from a risk into a reliable gateway.
✨ Premium Finishes
Every Port Phillip (1836–1856) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the fine engraved detail and historic character.
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| 📜 Paper (160 gsm matte) | Smooth heavyweight archival paper with superb line clarity. Ideal for framing under glass. |
| 🧼 Laminated (True Encapsulation) | Sealed between 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate for full edge-to-edge protection. Tear-resistant and wipe-clean — perfect for clubs and offices. |
| 🖼️ Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte) | Printed on premium HP canvas using pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for a warm, gallery-grade finish. |
| 🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails | Laminated chart mounted between natural timber rails with hanging cord — ready to hang. Allow up to 10 working days. |
| 🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails | Canvas finished with lacquered natural timber rails for an elegant frameless maritime display. Allow up to 10 working days. |
📐 Size
1000 mm (W) × 750 mm (H)
A commanding landscape wall format that brings every sounding, shoal and channel into crisp focus.
🎯 Ideal For
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Maritime and naval history collectors
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Yacht clubs and sailing institutions
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Museums and libraries
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Architects and heritage interiors
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Anyone fascinated by Melbourne’s origins
🤝 Our Commitment
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Printed in Australia with professional colour management
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Archival pigment inks for long-term stability
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Premium laminates and canvas for durability
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Natural timber hang rails for elegant presentation
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Hand-checked and carefully packed before dispatch
Melbourne was built on this bay.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that made it possible onto your wall.
