South Australia — Geelong Bay & Corio Harbour (1859)
The Admiralty chart that opened Victoria’s industrial gateway
This finely detailed British Admiralty chart captures the moment when Geelong and Corio Bay became the maritime engine room of colonial Victoria. Surveyed in 1859 by Commander M.G.H.W. Ross and engraved by the legendary J. & C. Walker, this map documents the exact channels, shoals and depths that allowed ships to safely reach what would become one of Australia’s most important ports.
Published by the Admiralty in 1860, this was the working chart used by captains bringing wool, grain and cargo into Corio Harbour during Victoria’s explosive mid-19th-century growth.
This is not a decorative map.
It is the blueprint of Geelong’s rise.
⚓ What This Chart Shows
This beautifully engraved Admiralty sheet reveals Corio Bay in full navigational detail.
-
Geelong Bay and Corio Harbour
-
The approach channels and inner harbour
-
Sandbanks, shoals and tidal flats
-
Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depths and hazards
-
Coastal relief shown by hachures
-
Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard
This was the chart captains trusted when threading ships into Victoria’s busiest regional port.
🧭 Why This Chart Works
Most maps show towns.
This shows how trade arrived.
-
Surveyed by Commander M.G.H.W. Ross — Admiralty hydrographer
-
True British Admiralty production — the world’s gold standard
-
Extremely high-resolution harbour hydrography
-
Museum-grade engraving by J. & C. Walker
-
Historic authority used by 19th-century mariners
This is the chart that turned Geelong into a global trading port.
✨ Premium Finishes
Every Geelong Bay & Corio Harbour (1859) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the fine engraving 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, offices and maritime spaces. |
| 🖼️ 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) × 744 mm (H)
A wide-format wall map that brings the full sweep of Corio Bay and Geelong’s harbour into commanding focus.
🎯 Ideal For
-
Victorian and Australian history collectors
-
Maritime and port history enthusiasts
-
Museums and libraries
-
Yacht clubs and maritime businesses
-
Geelong heritage interiors
🤝 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
Before Geelong became a city, it was a harbour — and this was its map.
Choose your finish and bring this great Admiralty chart onto your wall.
