Australia — South Coast, Entrance to Port Phillip (1859–60)
The Admiralty chart that opened Melbourne to the world
Before Melbourne became one of the great ports of the British Empire, there was The Rip — the narrow, violent gateway between Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay. This magnificent 1859–60 British Admiralty chart, surveyed by Commander M. G. H. W. Ross and engraved by J. & C. Walker, captures the precise moment when this dangerous entrance was finally measured, charted and made navigable.
Published in London in 1860 under the authority of the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, this was the chart trusted by captains carrying gold, immigrants and cargo into Victoria during the explosive years of Melbourne’s rise.
This is not a decorative map.
It is the key that unlocked Australia’s greatest harbour.
⚓ What This Chart Shows
This beautifully engraved Admiralty chart lays out the entrance to Port Phillip with uncompromising precision.
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The full approach from Bass Strait into Port Phillip Bay
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The Rip, channels and shoals plotted in extraordinary detail
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Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depth and hazards
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Coastal relief shown by hachures
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Sandbanks, reefs and navigation marks
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True Admiralty projection and scale (1:24,400)
This was the chart used by pilots and captains threading their way into Melbourne.
🧭 Why This Chart Works
Most coastal maps show shorelines.
This shows how ships survived passing between them.
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Surveyed in 1859–60 by Admiralty officers
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One of the most dangerous harbour entrances in Australia
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Ultra-large scale for real navigation
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Gold-rush era maritime history
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Museum-grade engraving by J. & C. Walker
This is the chart that turned Port Phillip from a gamble into a working harbour.
✨ Premium Finishes
Every Entrance to Port Phillip (1860) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the razor-sharp engraving and depth figures.
| 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) × 670 mm (H)
A commanding landscape wall format that faithfully reproduces the authority and fine detail of the original Admiralty sheet.
🎯 Ideal For
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Maritime and naval history collectors
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Yacht clubs and sailing organisations
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Museums and libraries
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Architects and heritage interiors
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Anyone fascinated by Melbourne’s maritime story
🤝 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 rose through this narrow gateway.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that made it possible onto your wall.
