Festland von Australien und benachbarte Inseln.

The rare first edition, dated 1841 at lower left, of Stielers detailed hand coloured engraved c.19th map of Australia and New Zealand.

Notes at lower left list of counties in WA (26), NSW (19) and VDL (9).

The map shows the nineteen counties in New South Wales which were defined by Governor Darling’s Government in 1826. The Darling River also has the aboriginal name for the river “Karalua.” Williamstown in Melbourne is incorrectly named “William,” and Victoria is named “Australia Felix.” Northern Territory not delineated and Queensland prior to separation from New South Wales in 1859.

The limits of location in the colony of New South Wales where settlers were permitted to take up land was only within the Governments defined, Nineteen Counties, and limits to settlement were due to the percieved dangers in the wilderness. They were defined by the Governor of New South Wales Ralph Darling in 1826 in accordance with a government order from Lord Bathurst, the Secretary of State. Counties had been used since the first year of settlement, with Cumberland County being proclaimed on 6th June 1788. Several others were later proclaimed around the Sydney area. Darling proclaimed the division of the settlement into Nineteen Counties in the Sydney Gazette of 17 October 1829. From 1831 the granting of free land ceased and the only land that was to be made available for sale was within the Nineteen Counties. The area covered by the limit, extended to Taree in the north, Batemans Bay in the south and Wellington to the West.

From Stieler’s, A. Hand Atlas. Gotha, Germany.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 6850116 (1871 edition)
State Library Victoria: SLV_VOYAGER3661362
State Library New South Wales: R.I. 74VKVELObVlg