There is a wealth of hydrogeological (groundwater) information available for the Greater Melbourne region. However, its value for water managers, policy-makers, business and the community is limited by how difficult it is to find, access and understand.

To make accessing the data easy, the Melbourne Groundwater Directory was created with the support of the Smart Water Fund and DSE.

Melbourne Groundwater Map

The Melbourne Groundwater Map shows the occurrence of groundwater across the Greater Melbourne Region. The map is intended to help current and potential groundwater users, resource managers and the general community to make decisions about groundwater.

Melbourne Groundwater Map (PDF~2.1MB)Melbourne Groundwater Map - High resolution version (PDF~7.5MB)

A table version of some of the information provided in the Melbourne Groundwater Map (Watertable Aquifer) has also been compiled. The table provides indications about the likely depth to groundwater, salinity and potential yield in the Greater Melbourne regions.

Likely Groundwater Occurrence at a Glance (PDF~130kb)

Melbourne Groundwater Directory Methodology Report

The Melbourne Groundwater Directory methodology report describes the data compilation process during the development of the mapping products (Melbourne Groundwater Map and the Technical Atlas). The report outlines the strengths and limitations in the mapping products and documents the data sources, interpretation methods, assumptions and limitations associated with the final products. This report also identifies the critical data gaps that limit the existing understanding of Melbourne’s hydrogeology and highlights geographic areas and aquifers that may require further investigation. A bibliography is also available for download.

Melbourne Groundwater Directory Methodology Report (PDF~2.4mb)Bibliography (XLS~243kb)

Melbourne Groundwater Directory Borehole Database

The borehole database contains records of approximately 5,000 bores used in the compilation of the aquifer extent and top of unit, potentiometry, salinity and watertable depth layers for the Melbourne Groundwater Directory. Approximately 1,000 bores contain stratigraphic interpretations.

Melbourne Groundwater Directory Borehole Database (MDB~2.0mb)

Melbourne Groundwater Technical Atlas

The Melbourne Groundwater Technical Atlas is comprised of key technical groundwater layers, including information on aquifer extent and depths, potentiometry, yield, salinity and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) potential.  The technical atlas was prepared for use by resource managers, hydroegologists, academics, or people with a general interest in hydrogeology to make decisions about groundwater.

Key layers include:    

• Watertable Aquifer
• Upper Tertiary Aquifer
• Middle Tertiary Aquifer
• Lower Tertiary Aquifer
• Bedrock Aquifer
• Groundwater Trends and Changes

GIS Layers and Metadata

All layers that have been developed as part of the Melbourne Groundwater Map and Melbourne Groundwater Atlas, and corresponding metadata are available by request from groundwater@ourwater.vic.gov.au.