How to Map Land Parcels in QGIS (Australia)
If you’re working with land data in Australia and want to map property or cadastral parcels, QGIS is a powerful, free, and open-source GIS tool that can help. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through how to map land parcels using QGIS, step-by-step, using free Australian spatial datasets.
What You’ll Need
- QGIS installed (Download: https://qgis.org)
- Access to land parcel data (via open government sources)
- Basic understanding of QGIS layers and navigation
Step 1: Download Land Parcel Data
In Australia, most states and territories offer free cadastral data through their spatial data portals:
| State/Territory | Data Portal |
|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Spatial Services |
| VIC | Vicmap – DataVic |
| QLD | QSpatial |
| WA | SLIP – WA Government |
| SA | Location SA |
| TAS | The LIST |
| NT | NT Land Information |
| ACT | ACTmapi |
Look for datasets with names like:
- Cadastral Boundaries
- Property Parcels
- Land Tenure or Ownership (public/private)
Download the data in Shapefile (.shp) or GeoPackage (.gpkg) format.
Step 2: Load Data into QGIS
- Open QGIS
- Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer
- Browse and select the parcel dataset you downloaded
- Click Add
Your land parcel data will appear on the map canvas.
Step 3: Style the Parcels
To make your parcel data clearer:
- Right-click the parcel layer > Properties
- Go to the Symbology tab
- Choose:
- Single Symbol for basic outlines
- Categorized to color-code by land use or ownership
- Click Apply
You can also label parcels using attribute fields like Lot Number, Plan ID, or Address.
Step 4: Add Basemaps (Optional)
For better context, you can add satellite imagery or topographic maps:
- Install the QuickMapServices plugin
- Go to Web > QuickMapServices > Settings > More Services
- Enable more basemaps (e.g., Google, ESRI, Bing)
- Then go to Web > QuickMapServices > [Choose a basemap]
Step 5: Export Your Map
Once you’re happy with your map:
- Go to Project > New Print Layout
- Give it a name
- Use the layout tools to add the map, legend, scale bar, and north arrow
- Export as PDF, PNG, or JPEG for use in reports or on your website
Step 6: (Optional) Overlay Other Layers
You can enhance your map with additional datasets:
- Zoning layers
- Flood maps
- Elevation (DEM) layers
- Infrastructure (roads, water)
Just follow the same import steps and ensure proper coordinate reference systems (CRS) alignment—usually GDA2020 (EPSG:7844) or GDA94 (EPSG:4283) in Australia.
Use Cases for Land Parcel Mapping
Land valuation and taxation
Urban planning and zoning analysis
Property boundary checks
Environmental and land use assessments
Infrastructure planning
