Australian Historical Aerial Photography Collection

Geoscience Australia is responsible for the records and custody of Commonwealth aerial photography, acquired since 1928 up to the most recent analogue film capture in mid-1990s. Subsequent comparable information is available in the form of satellite imagery or direct digital aerial image capture. The majority of the landmass of Australia is covered by black and white photography at 1:80,000 scale. The near complete coverage was undertaken three times, in 1950s, 1960s and 1980s. Metadata about aerial photo surveys is recorded as flight diagrams on 1:250,000, 1:100,000 & 1:50,000 maps showing the approximate aircraft flight paths, selective depiction of photo centres, and other survey parameters. Value: Aerial imagery can be used to study change over time for land use, vegetation, environmental quality, etc. Scope: Images in the collection have been acquired since 1928 up to the most recent analogue film capture in mid-1990s. Subsequent comparable information is available in the form of satellite imagery or direct digital aerial image capture. The majority of the landmass of Australia is covered by black and white photography at 1:80,000 scale. The near complete coverage was undertaken three times, in 1950s, 1960s and 1980s.