Reviews of Books: Atlas of Australian Resources

Summary

This review introduces the Atlas of Australian Resources, published by the Department of National Development, Canberra. Ten of the planned 42 maps have appeared (six in 1953, four in 1954). The maps, drawn on a polyconic projection at 1:6,000,000 and printed in up to ten colours, are accompanied by expert commentaries from government specialists. The author highlights innovative economic cartography: the mineral map uses colour and symbol shape/size to show deposit type and national importance; agricultural and population maps use proportional symbols against density backgrounds; the major development projects map encodes project type, stage, ownership, and capital cost through symbols and colours. Climate, underground water, rainfall, temperature, soils, and administrative maps are also noted. The review concludes that the atlas promises to become an essential geographical handbook for Australia, and the remaining 32 maps are eagerly awaited.