Historical Subdivision Plans
The Local Studies collection contains several subdivision plans, some originals and others copies of those in the State Library of New South Wales.
They were prepared when large farms were subdivided into smaller farm lots and large residential blocks on main roads.
Not all early subdivision plans have survived. Those that have may be unreliable for distance, scale and dates. They are still helpful in locating a block within a subdivision or revealing existing houses and neighbours.
These plans give us a better understanding of the social history of the area when used in conjunction with:
The 1880s-1930s was a time of great expansion in the Hills area particularly in the south. This was influenced by the development of tram and train services.
Many subdivision plans from this period were produced by auctioneers and real estate agents. The plans were used for advertising purposes.
Perceptions of suburb locations and boundaries have changed over time. Our collection has been arranged by current suburb or region: