Australia as we know it today is divided into States and Territories, but prior to Federation in 1901, each State was it’s own Colony (well almost).

Back in the 1800s the various ‘colonies’ of Australia, were divided into Counties, Hundreds and Districts, many of which are no longer in use today.

This atlas, compiled by H.S. Carroll in 1876, was the first of its kind ever produced in the Colony, and was thoroughly authentic at the date of publication. It shows all boroughs, postal towns, villages, hamlets, road boards, roads, railways, rivers, lakes, creeks, mountains, stations and the area of county and station (including the names, occupiers, grazing capabilities and area of each).

It also includes the population of each town in the colony, height of mountains, length, rise, and fall of rivers, the quantity of cereals and green crops, hay, wine, &c., produced in the different localities, and all the geographical, geological, and physiological matter of South Australia and the Northern Territory at the time.

Included are 26 full colour maps compiled from plans in the Lands Department by permission of the Surveyor General.

This atlas was to ‘be found eminently useful … as the best means of furnishing the rising generation of the Colony with a thorough geographical knowledge of South Australia and the Northern Territory’.

An amazing reference work for anyone with an interest in both the history and geography of South Australia and the Northern Terrirory.

This title is available in both book form (large format A3 landscape size), and on CD-ROM.

South Australian Counties Atlas 1876 (book) – $49.50
South Australian Counties Atlas 1876 (CD) – $29.50

Finally we have some good news about the ‘proposed’ closure of the National Archives of Australia Offices in South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

MEDIA RELEASE – Tuesday 23 February 2010
The Rudd Government today announced the National Archives of Australia will maintain face-to-face services in Adelaide.

Australia’s National Archives play a vital role in keeping the political,
social and cultural history of Australia alive,” the Minister with
responsibility for the National Archives, Senator Joe Ludwig, said.

“The Rudd Government has listened to community concerns and today I can
announce that the Government will keep the Adelaide office open until a
suitable co-location arrangement can be made.”

“Instead of closing the Adelaide office, the Government will move to
co-locate with similar institutions,” Ms Ellis said.

“This will enable the National Archives to continue to provide high quality
services in Adelaide for all South Australians,” the Member for Port
Adelaide, Mark Butler said.

“This is a good outcome for South Australia. In particular, the Adelaide
office has an important role to play in assisting South Australians in their
search for Colonial papers and migrant arrivals as well as maritime and
migrant arrival information.”

“Co-location will help put the National Archives on a sustainable footing
for the long term, while maintaining face-to-face services in South
Australia,” the Member for Makin, Tony Zappia said.

“Last financial year there were only 720 visits to the Adelaide reading room
compared to 22,290 visits nationally, while more than 1.9 million records
were accessed online.”

Similar arrangements will be put in place in Darwin and Hobart, and the
Government will encourage other National Archives offices to consider
options for co-location.”

In response the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) have issued the following:

MEDIA RELEASE – Tuesday 23 February 2010
The ASA National President, Jackie Bettington, said today “We applaud the announcement today that the National Archives of Australia (NAA) will be retaining a presence in Darwin, Adelaide and Hobart. This has come as a result of significant pressure from the public, archivists, politicians (of all political persuasions), academics, journalists and historians. This is a real reminder to all governments across Australia that Archives do indeed matter”.

“Today can be viewed as a celebration of the passion of South Australian’s for their history and for the original records that document that history” added Kylie Percival, South Australian Branch State Convenor.

Thank you everyone who showed your support. I have no doubt that without us all having a voice and raising it, these Offices would have closed and the loss of easy access to these records would have gone with them, so THANK YOU!

There has been some mentions of the planned closure of the National Archives of Australia offices in Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin, but it would seem that many still haven’t heard about it.

So to keep you informed, Graham Jaunay has done a lengthy article this topic in his latest newsletter, and due to the response received subsequently has sent out a supplementary newsletter.

John Bannon (former SA premier and historian) was on ABC radio last night speaking against the NAA closure. Both he and Alexander Downer have had substantial articles in the Advertiser here.

If you are opposed to the closure of these NAA Offices, please do what you can to get it known … sign a petition, write a letter to your councillor. If you’re a Facebook’er join the “Save the NAA” Cause or the “Against the Closure of the National Archives of Australia SA NT and TAS” Group.

Please spread the word about this, we need everyone to know that it is wrong to close these offices …

UPDATE – 23 February 2010
NAA Offices in Darwin, Hobart and Adelaide staying open