Historic Photographs Collection, Department of Mineral Resources

Item details


Name of item:	Historic Photographs Collection, Department of Mineral Resources
Other name/s:	Geological Survey collection of historic images, NSW Trade & Investment offices Maitland
Type of item:	Movable / Collection
Group/Collection:	Government and Administration
Category:	Contents (movable)
Location:	Lat: -32.727663 Long: 151.551961
Primary address:	516 High Street, Maitland, NSW 2320
Local govt. area:	Maitland
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Mindaribba

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	2		DP	1051969

Boundary:

The SHR curtilage boundary is limited to the item itself and does not include the land it is located on or the structure it is housed within.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
516 High Street	Maitland	Maitland			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Crown Lands - Planning and Environment	State Government	07 Feb 00
NSW Trade and Investment (Resources and Energy)	State Government
NSW Trade and Investment (Resources and Energy)	State Government

Statement of significance:


	This unique collection of historic images of rocks and landforms includes rare images relating to early mineral discoveries and contributes to our understanding of the development of the mining industry in NSW. The collection of around 110,000 historic images, amassed since the late nineteenth century by the NSW Government's 'Geological Survey' branch of the former department of Mineral Resources, were required for the production of geological maps of the state. The collection is associated with George W. Card, curator of the Geological Mining Museum, who was the first to order it and with the office of the Government Printer, whose photographers took most of the photographs. There is an associated collection of photographs in the Government Printing Office's collection of glass negatives in the State Library of NSW. The collection includes valuable historic images of the landscape from Victoria. Queensland, Tasmania as well as some countries overseas. It is estimated that less than one tenth of the collection has been scanned. There is some meta-data associated with the collection including index cards. The maps which were constructed on the basis of these photos are not part of the collection but are held by the former department of Mineral Resources. About 6000 images from the collection - largely historic photographs - are held by State Records. The rest of the collection of negatives, glass plate negatives and slides was moved from St Leonards to the offices of NSW Trade & Investment in Maitland in 2004.
	Date significance updated: 25 Mar 15
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1860-
Physical description:	Contains original glass plates, glass lantern slides and copy negatives covering mining and related subjects dating from 1860 to the present. There is in the order of 110,00 photographs in the collection.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Photographs mounted on cards with negatives stored.
	Date condition updated:16 Mar 01
Modifications and dates:	Additions to the photographic collection is made on a regular basis.
Further information:	Public viewing of the collection is available through appointment.


Current use:	Photographic Collection
Former use:	Photographic Collection

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances.	(none)-

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00972	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Heritage & Conservation Register for Department of Mineral Resources	1994		(not stated)		No

References, internet links & images

None

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5014134
File number:	S95/00340/1

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