Australia — Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reefs to Torres Strait (1861)

The Admiralty chart that unlocked Australia’s northern sea route

Before charts, before lights, before safe passages were known, the Great Barrier Reef was one of the most feared obstacles on Earth. Stretching for more than 2,000 kilometres, it was a maze of coral, shoals and hidden passages that stood between global shipping and northern Australia.

This magnificent 1861 British Admiralty chart, compiled by Frederick John Evans, Master RN, from the surveys of Flinders, Phillip Parker King, Blackwood, Owen Stanley, Yule and Denham, represents the moment when the reef was finally understood, mapped and made navigable.

Engraved by J. & C. Walker and published by the Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty, this was the chart that showed captains how to pass safely through one of the most dangerous marine environments on the planet.

This is not a decorative map.
It is the key to Australia’s tropical sea frontier.

⚓ What This Chart Shows

This master chart lays out the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef system in astonishing operational detail.

• The full Queensland reef system from Cape York to the Coral Sea

• Inner and outer shipping routes to Torres Strait

• Detached reefs, shoals and coral heads precisely plotted

• Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depth and danger zones

• Coastal relief shown by hachures and spot heights

• Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard

This was the chart that let ships thread a safe line through the reef.

🧭 Why This Chart Works

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

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

• True British Admiralty production — the gold standard of navigation

• Shows both inner and outer reef routes to Torres Strait

• Essential for mail ships, naval vessels and traders

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

This is the document that made northern Australia accessible, commercial and defensible.

✨ Premium Finishes

Every Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reef (1861) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the extraordinary fine detail and engraved depth figures.

📐 Size

1000 mm (W) × 670 mm (H)
A commanding panoramic wall format that reproduces the authority and intricate detail of the original Admiralty sheet.

🎯 Ideal For

• Maritime and naval history collectors

• Yacht clubs and sailing organisations

• Museums and libraries

• Architects and heritage interiors

• Anyone fascinated by the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s maritime past

🤝 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 was once the world’s greatest maritime obstacle.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that conquered it onto your wall.