Towns, Tracks & Shires — Craigie’s New South Wales Town Map, Shire Edition (1942)

Trace New South Wales in the language of movement and mail. Compiled, drawn, and published in Sydney by Kenneth Craigie in 1942 (5th edition), this Shire Edition brings the state into sharp mid-century focus—postal towns, railway stations, and key local centres set within clearly delineated shire boundaries. It’s NSW as people used it: where letters were sent, trains were caught, and districts were administered—crisp, comparative, and made to navigate.

More Than a Map – A Testament to History

This is not just wall art—it’s a working atlas of wartime New South Wales. Every labelled township, siding, and shire line reveals how communities were connected and governed in the early 1940s. Ideal for regional historians, genealogists, rail enthusiasts, educators, designers, and collectors of Australian cartography, this map is both a visual treasure and a richly instructive research tool.

Display it in classrooms, council chambers, offices, museums, libraries, or your home, and create a space that invites reflection, study, and conversation.

Premium Materials & Finishes

We treat history with the respect it deserves. Choose the format that suits your space—each produced with archival care and modern fidelity.

🌟 Archival Paper Print
Printed on heavyweight 160gsm archival-grade paper.
Smooth matte finish reduces glare and preserves fine linework and small township labels.
Ideal for framing under glass for a classic, long-lasting presentation.

💎 Laminated Edition
Encapsulated in two 80-micron gloss sheets using true thermal bonding (not surface lamination).
Moisture-resistant, wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms, reading rooms, and high-traffic spaces.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered rails with a fitted hanging cord arrive ready to display—no frame required. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

🏆 Museum-Quality Canvas
Printed on heavyweight 395gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas for rich texture and strength.
Pigment-based, fade-resistant inks deliver deep tone and crisp typography that endure for generations.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered to enhance the wood grain and protect against wear; top cord for effortless hanging. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

Specifications

Why Choose This Map

✔ Rail & Postal Clarity: A state-wide snapshot that foregrounds how NSW was connected at the town and shire scale.
✔ Research-Grade Detail: Ideal for genealogy, local history, and transport studies across the 1940s landscape.
✔ Decorative & Scholarly: Handsome enough for interiors; precise enough for teaching and reference.
✔ Crafted to Last: Premium substrates and archival inks preserve contrast and small labels for decades.
✔ Ready to Display: Optional hang-railed laminated or canvas editions provide a museum-quality presentation—no frame required.
✔ A Meaningful Gift: Perfect for NSW locals, regional historians, railfans, and design-minded collectors.

Our Commitment

We believe that preserving history is as important as telling it. Every map is printed locally in Australia using state-of-the-art technology, carefully checked by hand, and packed with care. From the moment it leaves our workshop to the day it hangs on your wall, we ensure quality you can trust and a legacy you’ll be proud to share.

Map a state by the places that kept it moving. Order Craigie’s New South Wales Town Map — Shire Edition (1942) today—a faithful, beautifully produced record of towns, tracks, and local governance at the heart of NSW.