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

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