Map of Tasmania by James Sprent

View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website

Type: Maps
Materials: Canvas, Metal - non specific, Paper, Wood
Collection: James Sprent collection
Accession number: 2012.0018.0001

Description

A tan and green map of Tasmania with blue around the edges with a tan background. The map is mounted on canvas and has a timber strip at the top and a timber rod at the bottom. There is an inscription at the top that reads 'This Map / OF / TASMANIA / IN 1859 / ... / JAMES SPRENT / Surveyor General. / ...'

About the collection

The James Sprent collection comprises a large and very early map (1859) of Tasmania, a sealed parchment manuscript contained in a zinc document case (Sprent's degree certificate), a Reeves parallel ruler, three small certificates for short courses at the University of Glasgow dated 1822-23 and a wooden box. The objects relate to James Sprent's distinguished career as a surveyor in Van Diemen's Land from 1830 until his death in 1863. During the first 50 years of settlement in Van Diemen's Land, the production of maps was haphazard. Increasing disputes over property boundaries were causing friction between landholders and so the government recognised the need for an accurate map. In 1833, Assistant Surveyor James Sprent embarked on an ambitious task to produce a trigonometrical survey of the whole island. The survey took over 20 years to be completed and the results were used to produce the first precise map of the colony. Sprent was the first surveyor in Van Diemen's Land with formal qualifications; he initiated the first steps towards the founding of a professional body for the recognition of the professional standards for surveyors in Australia. In 1858, he was the first civilian appointed to the position of Surveyor-General. This marked a major change in the philosophy of governing the colony with a move away from an expensive military presence.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 6:07:35 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-09-30. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.