MMBW Digitising Project

The MMBW Digitising Project is part of the Library's strategic program of digitisation to preserve and increase access to its collection. The project involves the digitisation and online delivery of MMBW Melbourne sewerage plans, produced by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works from the 1890s to the 1950s.

What does the project involve?

The project consists of two parts:

digitisation (high-resolution scanning and conversion to a digital file) of around 750 of the most frequently requested plans out of the 4000 existing MMBW Melbourne Sewerage Plans 1890s-1950s
delivery of the plans in a custom-built interactive application that can be accessed via the Library's Main Catalogue.

Why were the plans chosen for digitisation?

The MMBW Melbourne Sewerage Plans are the most comprehensive record of Melbourne's urban development held by the Library. They are very rare - the Library holds only one set, and many plans are extremely fragile, particularly those showing central Melbourne streets. The plans are among the most requested and used material in the Maps Collection.

What are the benefits of digitising the plans?

Greater preservation

Wear and tear on the original paper plans will be reduced as physical viewing and photographic copying of the originals is replaced for the most part by online viewing of digital plans and a digital copying service.

Improved access

The original paper plans can only be viewed by appointment in the Heritage Collections Reading Room. Online delivery via the Library's catalogue will allow the plans to be accessed at any time.

Extra functionality

Online delivery of the digitised plans provides functionality and convenience that is not possible when physically viewing individual paper plans. Users can navigate from plan to plan using built-in map tools to browse, zoom and pan, and can print copies of plans. Full catalogue records can be viewed from each map display page.

Learn more about the MMBW Plans online and how to use them >

Browse the MMBW Plans online >