Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For more than a century, geoscience has helped Australia understand its land and seas, shaping decisions, industries and communities.
Travel through time with the Digital Atlas of Australia to explore Australia’s geoscience heritage and see how mapping, geology and Earth observation have evolved alongside the nation itself. Historical maps, aerial imagery and contemporary data come together to show continuity from past to present.
From space to the Earth’s core, geoscience has informed Australia’s resource potential, infrastructure development and industrial capability. Today, integrated geoscience supports critical minerals, carbon capture and storage, groundwater and population planning, while also strengthening understanding of environmental change, natural hazards and community growth.
Shaping Australia’s future through geoscience insights.
Early maps sourced from the National Library of Australia.
Satellite imagery of Wyperfeld National Park (1977-2020) and Western Sydney (1975–2019) sourced from United States Geological Survey, Earth Shots. Red indicates vegetation, light green and purple mark built-up or urban areas, green and tan show more vegetated land, brown and lighter green represent sparse or bare land, and dark areas reveal water or shadow.
Data, historical aerial photography and contemporary photography from Geoscience Australia and the Digital Atlas of Australia.
For more than a century, geoscience has helped Australia understand its land and seas, shaping decisions, industries and communities.
Travel through time with the Digital Atlas of Australia to explore Australia’s geoscience heritage and see how mapping, geology and Earth observation have evolved alongside the nation itself. Historical maps, aerial imagery and contemporary data come together to show continuity from past to present.
From space to the Earth’s core, geoscience has informed Australia’s resource potential, infrastructure development and industrial capability. Today, integrated geoscience supports critical minerals, carbon capture and storage, groundwater and population planning, while also strengthening understanding of environmental change, natural hazards and community growth.
Shaping Australia’s future through geoscience insights.
Early maps sourced from the National Library of Australia.
Satellite imagery of Wyperfeld National Park (1977-2020) and Western Sydney (1975–2019) sourced from United States Geological Survey, Earth Shots. Red indicates vegetation, light green and purple mark built-up or urban areas, green and tan show more vegetated land, brown and lighter green represent sparse or bare land, and dark areas reveal water or shadow.
Data, historical aerial photography and contemporary photography from Geoscience Australia and the Digital Atlas of Australia.
