Australian Resources in Maps

Summary

This article reviews five additional maps published in 1958 by the Australian Department of National Development as part of the Atlas of Australian Resources, together with their explanatory handbooks. The new maps—'Dominant Land Use', 'Population Increase and Decrease (1947–1954)', 'Ports and Shipping', 'Education Facilities', and 'Health Services'—maintain the series' high standards of compilation and cartographic clarity. The review examines each map's content and significance: the land-use map effectively delineates Australia's pastoral and agricultural patterns; the population map highlights the full impact of postwar immigration and high birth rates, notably the absence of rural depopulation in southeastern Australia compared to the previous period; the ports and shipping map offers a wealth of detail on trade tonnages, hinterland extents, and inter-state boundaries affecting port competition. The education and health facility maps reflect population distribution, with the Flying Doctor service extending coverage beyond settled areas. The author concludes that these maps and commentaries are essential documents for studying Australian geography, and notes that correlations between them—such as postwar industrial growth and the expansion of technical education—offer valuable insights.