Review: Atlas of Australian Resources, Second Series. Population Distribution and Growth

Summary

This review examines the population distribution and growth map-sheet from the Atlas of Australian Resources (Second Series), published by the Department of National Development in 1964, with commentary by L. L. Robson and a supplementary note on the aboriginal population by F. Lancaster Jones. The review highlights the map's intricate diagrammatic approach to simultaneously depicting population growth and spatial distribution, which requires careful study. The commentary provides a brief historical overview, emphasizing the early and persistent concentration of population in urban areas, and cautions that urban-rural growth differentials may be misleading due to the physical expansion of urban boundaries. Jones's supplementary note offers the first reasonably complete count of the aboriginal population, comparing Radcliffe-Brown's 1788 estimates with 1961 data, and warns of potential doubling within 26 years, urging proactive consideration of social implications. Overall, the map and commentary serve as a valuable resource for understanding Australian population dynamics, though the map is best interpreted alongside the accompanying text.