Sales plans were used by real estate companies to advertise land sales (both those that occurred and some that did not progress further than the plan). They contain evidence of prices paid for suburban blocks, boundaries, road changes, land use, social change and types of ownership. Many can be viewed online, others can be viewed at the Library.

The National Library’s collection of 10,000 sales plans records the real estate auctions of eastern Australia, including Sydney, and the subdivision of vast tracts of land, from the 1840s – 1930s.

Finding sales plans

Visit the Library's catalogue.

Enter “sales plan” AND a place, town or suburb name into the search box, and select search. Select “Map” from the dropdown menu for format.

To view only digitised maps, enter “sales plan” AND a place, town or suburb name into the search box, select "Map" as the format, and select “digitised item” under the Access filter.

Pocket plan of Rydalmere

Campbell Mitchell & Co., Pocket plan of Rydalmere, Jarrett & Co. Lith., Sydney, 1886, MAP Folder 56, LFSP 806.

Tuross between Bodalla & Moruya

Hardy, Busby & Norman, Tuross between Bodalla & Moruya, W.C. Penfold & Co., Sydney, [1924?], MAP F 98.