How to Search a Deposited Plan Online in Australia
Learn how to search a deposited plan online in Australia, what it shows about a property's boundaries, and how it connects to the title, all from home.
Title Checker Australia
Jul 12 2026
Every block of land in Australia has a story told in lines and numbers — where its boundaries sit, how big it is, and what rights run across it. That story lives in a deposited plan, the official survey document that sits behind your property's title. Whether you're buying, subdividing, or simply settling a fence-line debate with the neighbours, knowing how to pull this document up online can save you a heap of guesswork. Here's a guide to finding one from your laptop, wherever you happen to be in the country.
What Is a Deposited Plan?
It's the surveyor's map of a parcel of land, lodged with the land registry and given a unique number — you'll often see it written as "DP" followed by a string of digits. It sets out the exact boundaries of each lot, the dimensions, and any easements or rights of way that affect the land. Put simply, while your title says who owns the property, the plan shows precisely what the property actually is.
How the Title of Deed and the Plan Work Together
It helps to picture two documents side by side. The title of deed records the legal owner and any interests on the property, while the plan maps the land itself. It will usually reference the plan by its number, so the two are read together: one tells you who owns the place and what's owed on it, the other tells you where it is and how big. Getting your head around how the title of deed links to the plan is the key to making sense of what you're looking at.
Deed Deeds and Plans: Clearing Up the Confusion
Search online and you'll notice people type all sorts of things — "deed deeds", "property deeds", "land papers". The phrase deed deeds usually just means the bundle of ownership documents, and it often gets muddled with the plan. Here's the distinction worth remembering: the deeds prove ownership, while the plan shows the land's layout — so a search for both gives you the full picture of a property before you commit.
How to Run the Search Online
The good news is you no longer need to visit a land registry counter to get this information. To look up a plan online:
Find the plan number — it's on the title, the contract of sale, or an earlier search.
Enter the details — pop the property address or the plan number into an online search service.
Confirm and receive — check you've got the right property, and the plan arrives in your inbox as a digital copy.
A service like Title Checker Australia lets you do all of this from home, pulling the plan and the related title together in one place, so you're not chasing documents across half a dozen different sites.
Your Next Step Before You Buy
A property is far too big a commitment to take on trust. The plan gives you the ground truth — the real shape of the land, its boundaries, and the rights that come with it — while the title tells you who owns it. Pull both up early, read them with care, and you'll step into any purchase across Australia knowing exactly what you're getting. The lines on a plan rarely lie; just make sure you've read them before you sign on the dotted line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DP number and where do I find it?
A DP number identifies the survey plan for a property. You'll usually find it on the property's title, the contract of sale, or a previous search — written as "DP" followed by a string of digits.
Do I need to own the property to look one up?
No. Property plans and ownership records are part of the public register in Australia, so you can look up any property — handy when you're comparing a few places before deciding where to make an offer.
Will the plan show me the exact boundaries?
Yes. It sets out the surveyed boundaries, lot dimensions and any easements or rights of way. For anything you intend to build near a boundary, it's wise to confirm the details with a licensed surveyor.
How will I receive the plan?
Everything is handled online. The document is delivered to your email inbox as a digital copy you can view, save or download, then share with your conveyancer or solicitor whenever it's needed.
Is the online version the same as the official record?
Yes. A reputable search draws straight from the official land registry, so the plan and title you receive reflect the current record — the same information the authorities hold, not a second-hand copy.