Robinson's road, rail & tramway map of Sydney & Suburbs - Antique Map from 1919

C1919

Robinson’s road, rail & tramway map of Sydney & Suburbs

Mapmaker:

Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson (1857 - 1933)

$A 3,250

Very rare, large scale c.20th folding map of Sydney by Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson who was one of Australia’s most distinguished and prolific mapmakers. This 1919 edition of his road, rail, and tramway map of Sydney and suburbs represents a … Read Full Description

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S/N: ROBI-AM-NSW-SYD-1919–316462

(BC02)

Categories: Cased Maps, Town Plans, MAPS & GLOBES, Sydney

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Details

Full Title:

Robinson’s road, rail & tramway map of Sydney & Suburbs

Date:

C1919

Mapmaker:

Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson (1857 - 1933)

Condition:

In good condition, with folds as issued. Laid onto archival linen as issued.

Technique:

Lithograph printed in colour, blue silk case.

Image Size:

214mm

x 259mm

Paper Size:

910mm

x 1250mm

Genuine antique
dated:

1919

Description:

Very rare, large scale c.20th folding map of Sydney by Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson who was one of Australia’s most distinguished and prolific mapmakers.

This 1919 edition of his road, rail, and tramway map of Sydney and suburbs represents a pinnacle of his commercial cartographic work. Published by his firm, H.E.C. Robinson Ltd, at their George Street premises in Sydney, the map was issued as a standalone folding map intended for public and commercial use. This specific timing is historically significant, as 1919 marked a period of post-war transition and urban expansion for the city.

The map provides an intricate topographic and infrastructural record of the Greater Sydney region at a large scale, typically thirty chains to an inch. Printed in color, it expertly differentiates between established roads, heavy rail lines, and the city’s vast tramway network, which at the time was among the largest and most efficient in the world. The level of detail captured by Robinson serves as a vital primary source for understanding the physical evolution of Sydney’s suburbs before the widespread dominance of the automobile.

Physically, the map was designed for portability and durability, often mounted on linen or high-quality paper that could withstand repeated folding. This 1919 version reflects the geographical realities of the era, showing the completed extensions of the tram lines to coastal reaches like Watsons Bay and the development of the inner-city rail spurs.

The map remains a testament to Robinson’s skill in translating complex urban growth into a clear and aesthetically pleasing visual format.

Collections:
National Library Australia: ID 44541200
State Library New South Wales: Record Identifier 74VKv6v6XWqA

Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson (1857 - 1933)

Robinson was a founder of the (Royal) Geographical Society of Australasia in 1885, a member of the Geographical Society of New South Wales in the late 1920s and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London. He made many valuable contributions to geographical science and was a delegate to the 1923 Sydney Regional Plan Convention. A friend and technical collaborator of Professor Sir Edgeworth David, he helped to produce David's monumental large-scale Geological Map of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1932. His draughtsmen also produced the maps for Donald Mackay's important aerial surveys of Australia from 1930. 1895 Wentworth Court-Robinson set up his own map-publishing business 1906 Phillip Street 1913 Permanent location at 221-223 George Street. 1917 H. E. C. Robinson Ltd was officially incorporated

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