Conference Paper

The continuing revision of the Australian National Atlas

By Unknown· 1980

Publication: Eighth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Far East. Volume 2: Technical Papers
Pages: 217–221

Australia · Version 1

1960–1977

This Australian editorial account describes the replacement of the first series of the Atlas of Australian Resources by the second series, begun in 1963. At September 1976, the final second-series sheet, “Natural vegetation”, was nearly ready for printing, with publication anticipated by January 1977. The account details recent thematic sheets: “Land use” used small-area agricultural statistics to guide compilation; groundwater mapping represented aquifer yield and salinity; manufacturing maps used columns to show establishments, workers and value added; and railway maps combined network characteristics with traffic flows and urban detail. “Government” added electoral mapping, while “Major urban areas” mapped land use in ten cities, including residential population density. The editors explain that retaining the large-sheet format allowed purchasers to replace first-series maps and commentaries in existing binders and boxes. They identify staffing flexibility and adjustment to data availability as advantages of serial publication, alongside difficulties in keeping purchasers informed and revising early sheets before the series was complete. Population mapping had already been updated using the 1966 and 1971 censuses, and revision of “Roads and aerodromes” was planned to incorporate a national road classification and changes in air services.

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The available opening and closing sections describe the near-completion of the second series of the Atlas of Australian Resources and planning for its third series. By September 1976, the second series was almost complete, with its final topic, “Natural vegetation,” possibly due by January 1977; several earlier topics were also being revised. Examples covering climate, water resources and use, land use, manufacturing, railways, government and major urban areas illustrate changes in data sources, classification, scale and presentation. These include compiling land-use maps with small-area agricultural statistics, using column symbols to quantify manufacturing, and combining multiple maps to present transport, electoral and urban information. The National Atlas Advisory Committee recommended continued serial publication for the third series, normally with several sheets integrating maps and commentary under each topic. Sheets would measure approximately 430 × 560 mm. About 45 topics were recommended for production within ten years and release in twice-yearly batches over no more than eight years after publication began. Topic selection drew on a user questionnaire and assessments by six specialist working groups. Staffing and expenditure restrictions delayed production; preliminary work concerned detailed topic planning, source assessment, specialist collaboration, base maps, layouts and standard symbols. Topics dependent on the 1976 population and housing census faced data-processing delays, with most required small-area detail and cross-classifications not expected until 1978.