Eastern Australia 3D Geological and Hydrogeological Surfaces for 18 Aquifer Units

18 region-wide hydrogeological unit surfaces were updated as part of Geoscience Australia's Exploring for the Future program. The data package covers basins from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Bight, Otway, and Gippsland basins, integrating legacy borehole data, 2D seismic, and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data. This second iteration, released in 2026, unifies geology across borders to support a consistent national hydrogeological framework.

Use Cases

• Model groundwater flow and aquifer connectivity based on the 3D surfaces of 18 hydrogeological units.
• Support sustainable groundwater resource management for the Great Artesian Basin based on updated surface extents and thicknesses.
• Provide regional geological context for integrated mineral and energy resource assessments based on the unified stratigraphic framework.
• Reconcile legacy and contemporary regional geological studies under a common stratigraphic nomenclature.

Strengths

• Covers a vast study area extending from northern offshore Gulf of Carpentaria to southern offshore basins.
• Integrates multiple data sources including legacy boreholes, 2D seismic, and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data.
• Updates surfaces for 18 specific hydrogeological units, providing a detailed regional framework.
• Produced under an eight-year, $225 million Australian Government funded geoscience program.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific eastern Australian basins covered.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Constructed using compiled legacy borehole, 2D seismic, and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data, with new data from various borehole types added.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-25 18:56:22.443158; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Eastern Australian basins from the offshore Gulf of Carpentaria in the north to the offshore Bight, Otway, and Gippsland basins in the south, and from the western edge of the Great Artesian Basin to the eastern coastline.