The history of Sutherland Shire is at the fingertips of residents as a result of a new initiative.
The popular local history collection has been digitalised and made interactive for those who access it.
A new website holds digital copies of thousands of items of significance, including images, maps, oral histories and collected ephemera.
There is also an exciting new touch table for curated content.
"This collection will allow members of our community to interact with their area's past and contribute to the project of preserving and sharing Sutherland Shire's history," mayor Carmelo Pesce said.
The website had been designed to allow visitors to save their favourite images, as well as add information to items such as names of people and places, and dates or details.
More than 240 maps, including old subdivision maps, can also be viewed and downloaded on the website.
The maps are high resolution so viewers can zoom in to see details and show information about early real estate, and the history of street names and roads.
Another feature, integrated Google Maps and Street View, lets visitors to the site see exactly where old photographs were taken and what stands in that location today.
All items in the collection include metadata that creates 'connections', allowing further exploration to other items associated with that person, place, event or story.
New visitors can see the digitised local history collection in full by signing up, either by registering or with their own library card.
The project to digitise thousands of items of significance was made possible by a Metropolitan Public Library Grant awarded by the Library Council of New South Wales for the NSW Government.
