Margaret Whiting Spilhaus’s 1929 Australia is a richly imagined pictorial atlas in a single view—part storytelling, part geography, and wholly captivating. Trained as an author and historian of exploration, Spilhaus orchestrates a scene where indigenous wildlife and emblems of discovery share the stage. At its heart, an elaborate cartouche dramatizes Captain James Cook’s arrival, the pivotal 1770 moment that reshaped the continent’s global trajectory. Decorative borders studded with square‑rigged vessels and intertwined fish set a maritime cadence, while a lower cartouche bearing the seal of Australia anchors the composition in national identity. Vivid color, ornate ornament, and densely packed vignettes turn coastlines and interior alike into a living panorama of journeys, encounters, and the evolving idea of Australia.

The map’s narrative moves from ocean margins to inland routes, charting the momentum of colonial expansion and the infrastructure that followed. Historic ships drift along the Pacific and Southern Ocean, their sails echoing the era when sea power decided destinies. On land, trains and early settlements knit the southeast into a coherent corridor of movement, a visual shorthand for federation’s promise. Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, and Wollongong appear as a constellation of urban energy, balanced by Adelaide and Perth on the western and southern rims. The inscription “Canberra, May 1927” memorializes the youthful capital’s establishment, signaling administrative consolidation after 1901 and the reorientation of political life inward from the coast.

Spilhaus tempers these colonial motifs with an exuberant celebration of Australia’s natural world. Kangaroos bound across inland tracts; birds wheel above bays and capes; and marine life scrolls along the border, binding sea to shore. The Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean, named and ornamented, frame the continent as both island and arch of trade. Tasmania’s Hobart and Launceston anchor a cooler, southern vignette, while tropical Cairns and Townsville, and the northern gateway of Darwin, imply climatic contrasts and maritime ties. Inland, Alice Springs and Mount Isa signal the stubbornness and allure of the interior. In Spilhaus’s hands, wildlife is cartographic language—icons that mark habitat, hint at resources, and remind viewers that geography is ecological before it is political.

Historically, the work compresses a century‑and‑a‑half of upheaval into a single, intelligible tableau. The Cook cartouche crystallizes the imperial claim of 1770, the act that set in motion exploration, surveying, and the ship‑to‑settlement chain visible along the coasts. By also inscribing “Canberra, May 1927,” Spilhaus links maritime discovery to the administrative maturity of the Commonwealth, tracing a narrative arc from sail to statute. Issued in 1929, the map speaks from an interwar vantage—confident, modern, and forward‑looking—yet alive to the layered past beneath new railways and ports. Its interplay of iconography invites reflection on the complexities of colonization and nation‑building, even as it celebrates the diversity of cultures and landscapes that define Australia.

For collectors, this map stands at the confluence of cartography and art, a signature of the interwar pictorial tradition and of Spilhaus’s own cosmopolitan lens. Decorative borders of square‑rigged vessels, intertwined fish, and maritime flourishes surround a continent dense with stories: Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, and Canberra; the resource towns of Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Mackay; the coastal arc through Newcastle, the Gold Coast, and Geelong. The lower cartouche bearing Australia’s seal, set beneath the dramatic Cook scene above, creates a vertical meditation on authority—from claim to commonwealth. As a visual essay in exploration, settlement, and environment, this map rewards close study and commands pride of place in any collection of Australiana or maritime history.

Places on this map

• Canberra
• Sydney
• Adelaide
• Melbourne
• Perth
• Brisbane
• Hobart
• Townsville
• Darwin
• Alice Springs
• Gold Coast
• Cairns
• Newcastle
• Launceston
• Wollongong
• Bendigo
• Mackay
• Geelong
• Rockhampton
• Mount Isa

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Elaborate cartouche depicting Captain James Cook's arrival.
• Illustrations of indigenous Australian wildlife, such as kangaroos and birds.
• Artistic representations of colonial explorers and historic ships.
• Decorative borders featuring square-rigged vessels and intertwined fish.
• A lower cartouche showcasing the seal of Australia.
• Notable scenes of exploration, including trains and early Australian settlements.
• Visual motifs related to the Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
• Cultural depictions that reflect Australia’s diverse history and heritage.

Historical and design context

• Lavishly illustrated with a vibrant color palette and ornate decorations.
• The map combines natural and colonial narratives, emphasizing indigenous wildlife and symbols of exploration and colonization.
• Illustrations include trains, explorers, ships, and historical figures, detailing both geography and cultural heritage.
• The map illustrates Captain James Cook's claiming of Australia in 1770, marking an important colonial milestone.
• The inclusion of 'Canberra, May 1927' symbolizes the establishment of the Australian capital.
• Margaret Whiting Spilhaus was a South African author and cartographer, recognized for her contributions to historical literature and children’s literature.
• She developed a series of pictorial maps, with this Australia map being a notable example.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.