Book reviews: Atlas of Australian resources

Summary

H. Waldbaur reviews five additional sheets of the Atlas of Australian Resources, prepared by the Department of National Development, Canberra, and issued in early 1956 with explanatory booklets and a collection box, following an earlier review of the first ten sheets. Physical Features combines elevation tints and relief shading, but Waldbaur finds that shading and sand-pattern symbols sometimes obscure the colors and that some place names are barely legible. Forest Resources maps seven forest types against rainfall and areas of forestry measures; its booklet includes photographs he finds impressive. Population Increase and Decrease depicts widespread rural decline in 1933–1947, including numerous smaller centers, alongside growth in many small and medium-sized towns and strong expansion of major cities. Roads and Aerodromes classifies roads by rank and surface over a population-density base and distinguishes aviation facilities; its booklet documents the extensive and rapidly growing air traffic. Railways distinguishes track gauges, train frequency, multiple tracks and freight categories. Waldbaur contrasts the sparsely occupied interior with the settled margins, suggesting smaller-scale coverage for the former and sometimes larger-scale coverage for the latter, and looks forward to further sheets.