Robinson’s Week-End Motor Map of S…

Detailed, large scale c.20th colour lithographed map of New South Wales.

The map covers a broad region extending from Gosford in the north to Bulli and Avon Dam in the south, reaching west toward Springwood and Picton. It features detailed information such as principal and minor touring roads with mileages, railways, tramways, and various points of interest like national parks and public buildings. Relief is typically shown through hachures, a traditional method of representing hills and terrain.

A note at the bottom of the map states: The Idea of the Map is that the routed of any projected tour may be filled in solid…. bringing out in relief the roads to be followed; or, of course,  a red or blue pencil filling-in will serve the same purpose.

Robinson was the pioneer in producing and promoting car and bicycle travel. He produced a number of maps specifically for this purpose. He was keen cyclist and while travelling in the early 1900’s recorded his travels and subsequently used that information to produce maps containing useful information such as: places to stay, fuel stops, suitable roads and tracks.

This map is a notable example of early 20th-century Australian cartography designed specifically for the burgeoning motor touring culture. Compiled and published by H.E.C. Robinson Ltd., the map was part of a series intended to help motorists project and record short excursions from Sydney.

This is the 5th edition as Robinson kept updating the map as road developments and increasing car ownership changed.