Fraud Blocker Skip to main content

Home > Australian Views > Australia's Rich History

Australia's Rich History Collection

A selection of historical Australian images, maps and illustratoins from the 1800s to more contemporary 1990s

Choose a picture from our Australia's Rich History Collection for your Wall Art and Photo Gifts

This gallery features an intriguing collection of images that provide a glimpse into Australia's rich history. The photographs document the country's transformation and development over time, from the early days of colonisation to the modern era. The images depict historic structures, landmarks, and events, highlighting the country's cultural heritage and significant historical moments. Each photograph tells a different story, from iconic structures like the Sydney Harbour Bridge to snapshots of everyday life in the past.

339 items

Australia's Rich History Collection: Gallipoli

Gallipoli Collection
5 items

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Sydney At Your Feet

Sydney At Your Feet
January 1957: A white cat who lives at the top of one of the pylon supports of the Sydney Harbour Bridge welcomes tourists to the Australian capital. (Photo by Dennis Rowe/BIPs/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge
circa 1930: Sydney Harbour Bridge during construction. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: View Down Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia, circa 1880

View Down Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia, circa 1880
A view down Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia, circa 1880. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Gold Prospecting

Gold Prospecting
Gold prospectors in Australia panning water and silt in search of small nuggets of the precious metal. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: The First Fleet

The First Fleet
Some of the First Fleet - eleven British Navy ships under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, which took 750 British convicts to Botany Bay

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: RaF Neptune over Sydney Harbour, March 1965

RaF Neptune over Sydney Harbour, March 1965
Scan from Kodak side taken March 1965. Shows RaF Neptune aircraft flying low over Sydney Harbour, Australia. Taken from another aircraft

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent

Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent
Antique Illustration, Popular Encyclopedia Published 1894. Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane

Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane, Military history
Vintage picture Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane, Military history, 1890s 19th Century

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane

Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane, Military history
Vintage picture Australian army, Queensland Defence Force, Soldiers on guard, Victoria Barracks Brisbane, Military history, 1890s 19th Century

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Town hall and square, Sydney, Australia

Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Town hall and square, Sydney, Australia
Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Town hall and square, Sydney, Australia

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Sydney

Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Sydney
Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Sydney

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Hobart

Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Hobart
Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Hobart

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Brisbane

Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Brisbane
Antique photograph of World's famous sites: Brisbane

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Firing observation mines from the shores, HMS Nelson, Naval drill, Jervis Bay, New South Wales

Firing observation mines from the shores, HMS Nelson, Naval drill, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, 1880s
Vintage illustration of Firing observation mines from the shores, HMS Nelson, Naval drill, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, 1880s

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Target practice, HMS Nelson armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy, Naval drill, Jervis Bay

Target practice, HMS Nelson armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy, Naval drill, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, 1880s
Vintage illustration of Target practice, HMS Nelson armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy, Naval drill, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, 1880s

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Aboriginal people preparing a meal, 19th Century Australia

Aboriginal people preparing a meal, 19th Century Australia
Vintage engraving of Australian Aboriginal people preparing a meal, 19th Century Australia

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: The Welcome (Gold) Nugget in Australia - 19th Century

The Welcome (Gold) Nugget in Australia - 19th Century
The "Welcome Nugget" gold nugget in Australia. Vintage photo etching circa 19th century. The Welcome Nugget, containing 99% pure gold, was the world's largest gold nugget at the time

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Yan Yean Reservoir, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victorian, 19th Century

Yan Yean Reservoir, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victorian, 19th Century
Vintage illustration of Yan Yean Reservoir, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victorian, 19th Century. At the time of its completion in 1857 it was the largest artificial reservoir in the world

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old engraved illustration of Government House is the official residence of the governor of Victoria

Old engraved illustration of Government House is the official residence of the governor of Victoria
Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Government House, Sydney, Australia, vice-regal residence of the governor of New South Wales

Government House, Sydney, Australia, vice-regal residence of the governor of New South Wales, Vintage photograph 1890s
Vintage illustration after a photograph of Government House, Sydney, Australia, vice-regal residence of the governor of New South Wales, 1890s

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent

Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent
Antique Illustration, Popular Encyclopedia Published 1894. Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis, a large ground dwelling bird

Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis, a large ground dwelling bird
Vintage illustration of Australian bustard (Ardeotis australis) a large ground dwelling bird which is common in grassland

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Sir George Frederic Verdon, an Australian politician and public figure, 1870s, Victorian

Sir George Frederic Verdon, an Australian politician and public figure, 1870s, Victorian
Vintage illustration of Sir George Frederic Verdon, an Australian politician and public figure who was elected a member of the legislative assembly for Williamstown in 1859, 1870s, Victorian

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Melbourne and Port Phillip - Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Melbourne and Port Phillip - Australia
Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old map of Oceania

Old map of Oceania
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent

Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent
Antique Illustration, Popular Encyclopedia Published 1894. Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent

Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent
Antique Illustration, Popular Encyclopedia Published 1894. Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea)

Old chromolithograph map of Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea)
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Queensland, a state situated in northeastern Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Queensland, a state situated in northeastern Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Victoria, a state in southeastern Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Victoria, a state in southeastern Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent

Old chromolithograph map of AUSTRALIA continent
Antique Illustration, Popular Encyclopedia Published 1894. Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Western Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Western Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of South Australia

Old chromolithograph map of South Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Southeast Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Southeast Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of New South Wales - a state on the east coast of Australia

Old chromolithograph map of New South Wales - a state on the east coast of Australia
Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Monster Shark

Monster Shark
A young child takes a closer look at a giant whale shark washed up at Bare Island La Perouse in Botany Bay. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Life Savers

Life Savers
1929: Life savers practising on Bondi Beach in Sydney. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Sydney, the capital city of the state of New South Wales

Old chromolithograph map of Sydney, the capital city of the state of New South Wales
Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Map of Australasia (1898 engraving)

Map of Australasia (1898 engraving)
Old map of Australasia from 1898

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique Map of Tasmania

Antique Map of Tasmania
Antique map of Tasmania from 1867

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique Map of Australia

Antique Map of Australia
Vintage map of Australia, from 1894

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Old chromolithograph map of Southeast Australia

Old chromolithograph map of Southeast Australia
Antique Illustration, Copyright has expired on this artwork. From my own archives, digitally restored

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Map of Australia 1874

Map of Australia 1874
Map of Australia

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Map of Australia

Map of Australia
Marcus Ward's Home Atlas - London, 1894

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique Map of Australia Late 19th Century

Antique Map of Australia Late 19th Century
Antique Map of Australia in the late 19th Century

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Map of Australasia (1882 engraving)

Map of Australasia (1882 engraving)
Old map of Australasia from "Royal Geographical Readers no. 5" of Asia, Africa, America and Oceania, publ. T Nelson & Sons, London in 1883

Background imageAustralia's Rich History Collection: Antique damaged map of Australia in the 19th Century, 1873

Antique damaged map of Australia in the 19th Century, 1873
Vintage engraving of a Antique damaged map of Australia in the 19th Century, 1873



Whether you're a history buff or simply interested in Australia's past, this gallery provides an intriguing insight into the country's rich and colourful history.

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping



-

Why Choose Us?

We are a leading provider of Art Prints and Photo Gifts since 2003, working in partnership with a range of Sporting Clubs, Charities, Museums and Picture Libraries. A large share of profits from any of their images will go directly towards supporting that charity or club. Our archive of images is carefully curated to bring you a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, wildlife, architecture, and more. We ship from our partner labs in the UK, USA, EU (Netherlands) and Australia.
+

How do I place an order?

Ordering is quick & easy - Just follow 5 Simple Steps:
  1. Find your image: Use our search box or browse our online photo Collections to find the image you want.

  2. Choose your print format: Select your desired product and add it to your cart.

  3. Enter your details: If you're a returning customer, simply enter your email address and password, and we'll fill in your billing and shipping address details. All personal details are held securely and are fully GDPR compliant. As standard, we remove all Personally Identifiable Information after 12 months.

  4. Pay for your purchase: We use state-of-the-art security for online shopping and do not have access to your card details.

  5. Sit back and relax: We'll email you confirmation of your order and when it's dispatched. Registered customers can also track orders in the 'My Account' area.

+

How do I pay for an order?

You can pay for your order with most of the major credit and debit cards, or PayPal. For added security, major financial institutions process payment details separately and securely on our behalf. We do not have access to your online payment card details. Online payments are preferred however we do take phone orders. For UK customers only we accept cheques issued against a UK bank.
+

Is my data safe?

We take data security very seriously. We do not have access to your full card details and all payments are requested over a fully secure connection. Additionally, we fully comply with current European and GDPR legislation, and automatically remove all personal data after at most 12 months (unless you have an account with us and have signed in recently). We also have a strict opt-in policy and would never sell your personal details. Your data is only used to fulfill your order promptly and efficiently.
+

Is wall art ready to hang?

For quick and easy installation all wall art, including framed prints, canvas prints and metal prints are supplied with a ready to hang solution on the back. Generally, saw tooth hangers are applied as they allow wall art to hang flush against the wall. The serrated edge of the hanger prevents the frame from shifting or tilting when hung.
+

Are the photo prints fade resistant?

Yes, we use archival quality photo paper photographic paper for vivid reproduction Prints are an accurate representations of the original artwork, which is preserved for artistic character and authenticity. We guarantee they match previews shown on our web site