Charting Australia’s Defence: The Legacy of the Royal Australian Survey Corps
10th May – 10th August 2025

For over 80 years, the Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy), with its Field Survey Units, and its main base at Fortuna Villa in Bendigo, played a vital role in the defence of the nation and the mapping of Australia and the region.

To mark the 110th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Survey Corps, the Ex-Fortuna Survey Association has curated this special exhibition, presented by the Bendigo Military Museum.

Explore the remarkable legacy of Australia’s military mapmakers, including:

• The extraordinary contributions of military surveyors from WWI to 1996.
• The innovative technological advancements that transformed military and civilian mapping.
• The human stories behind the maps – the camaraderie, dedication, and the deep ties to Fortuna Villa.

More than just an Army Corps, RASvy was a family. Many members spent decades in service, forging lifelong connections, and for them, Fortuna Villa was home. This exhibition captures their bonds, their pioneering work, and the enduring impact of their service on Australia’s Defence Forces.

“SINCE 1915 THE SURVEY CORPS HAS NOT JUST BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE TACTICAL SUCCESSES OF THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY IN TWO WORLD WARS AND OTHER CONFLICTS, IT HAS PLAYED AN OUTSTANDING ROLE IN THE BUILDING OF THIS NATION – THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA AND THE BUILDING OFOTHER NATIONS SUCH AS PAPUA NEW GUINEA.”

Lieutenant General John Sanderson AC, Chief of the General Staff, on the occasion of the integration of RASVY into RAE, August 1996

Join us in celebrating this incredible legacy! #BendigoMilitaryMuseum #TheMapmakers #SurveyCorps110