Eleven maps

Below are eleven of my favourite digitised maps from Sir George Grey Special Collections. There are over 8000 maps in Sir George Grey Special Collections and about 1600 have been digitised. 

Ref: New Zealand lighthouse chart, 1900, Sir George Grey Special Collections, 
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 516

A pictorial map showing where lighthouses are situated around the New Zealand coast.

Ref: Campbell's beach estate, 1908, Sir George Grey Special Collections, 
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 6564

This map can be classified as real estate advertising. It shows allotments 

for sale in Campbell's Bay on Auckland's North Shore. 

Ref: 15 freehold allotments, 1865, Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 4475-5

The map above, with careful illustrations of trees and houses, is from the nineteenth
century and shows allotments for sale off Queen Street, Auckland.

Ref: George Treacy Stevens, Auckland, 1886,
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 374

A bird's-eye-view map of Auckland, showing the wharves, Parnell, 

Symonds Street cemetery and Herne Bay.

Ref: Plan of Kawiti's pā at Ruapekapeka by Mr Nops, assisted by Mr Groves, 1846,
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 4626 

A primary document from the New Zealand Wars, this is one of several hand drawn plans of the complex defensive pā at Ruapekapeka, built by Ngāpuhi leader Te Ruki Kawiti.
The pā had underground shelters protected by fortifications.

Ref; Otago Harbour surveyed by Captain J L Stokes... 1855,
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 861

The map above is a nineteenth century hydrographic chart of Otago harbour. 

As recently as 1969 one or two charts created by Stokes and his officers were still in use.

Ref: An aerial map of part of Auckland, 1968,
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 7266

One of 87 aerial photographs of parts of Auckland city which have 

been digitised. The map shows part of the suburb of Point Chevalier.

Ref: Ferdinand von Hochstetter, The harbours and bays of Aotea and Kawhia, 1859,
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 5694c 

A geological and topographical map created by Ferdinand von Hochstetter during his travels in the North Island. Note the interesting label: 'Whenua-pu Mount[ain]s, Castle Hills or the 

Switzerland of New Zealand', in the lower right-hand corner. 

Ref: Thames illustrated mining map, 1860s, Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 4531

A map of Thames including advertisements and drawings of many 

businesses in both Thames and Auckland.

Ref: Charles Heaphy, Sketch of the Waikato River... 1863, Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 3583

A hand coloured version of a hydrographic chart of part of the 

Waikato River, drawn by Charles Heaphy.

Ref: New Zealand Railway tours, 1889, Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 6573

A pictorial map of railway tours around New Zealand, with pictures of 

some of the available excursions and activities to be enjoyed.

If you are wanting to find a map which has not been digitised you will need to come in to the library and speak with a staff member at Sir George Grey Special Collections or email us your enquiry.

You can search for and purchase copies of maps on the Heritage Images database. Find some of our photographs and maps printed on t-shirts, tote bags and teatowels here.

Author: Zoë Colling, Sir George Grey Special Collections