Title: ‘Sketch of the Geological Formation of the Auckland District’ (1857-1859)

Creator: Charles Heaphy ([1820]-1881)

Description: The artist and colonial surveyor Charles Heaphy ([1820]-1881) arrived in New Zealand in August 1839 initially as draughtsman in the employ of the New Zealand Company. This company was a commercial enterprise whose remit was to systematically (and socially engineer) the colonisation of New Zealand. Heaphy’s role was to produce idyllic images of the landscape to tempt Europeans to emigrate. In his exploration of the country, Heaphy is known to have employed Maori guides, two of whom – Kehu and Tau – saved his group from starvation during a trip down the west coast in 1846.

This large map was submitted to the Society with Heaphy’s paper “On the Volcanic Country of Auckland, New Zealand” which was published in the ‘Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society’, vol 16, (1860), pp242-252.  Only part of the map was published.

Much of the volcanic landscape depicted by Heaphy in the map is now obscured by urbanisation.

Date: 1857-1858

Format: Watercolour

Archive reference: LDGSL/209

Image reference: 07-188

Original size: 100 x 83cm

Recommended print size: Up to 100 x 70cm (40in x 27in)