Titled The Colony of Western Australia, John Arrowsmith’s 1844 sheet presents a poised, contemporary vision of a young colony rendered with the clean assurance that made his London Atlas a landmark of the nineteenth century. The title sits within a refined cartouche that balances elegance and restraint, while the land is divided into counties picked out in delicate outline color, a modern aesthetic choice that heightens legibility without showmanship. Political boundaries are crisply declared, towns cleanly lettered, and rivers and capes traced with judicious exactitude. Issued during the London Atlas’s most innovative period—when additional sheets dated 1844 expanded its remit—this map embodies Arrowsmith’s celebrated clarity, framing Western Australia at a pivotal moment when official surveys, coastal soundings, and the first inland traverses were beginning to cohere into a persuasive geography.

Arrowsmith’s draughtsmanship favors structure over ornament, so the geography speaks first: an intricately serrated coastline, bays and headlands precisely notated, and a river network that anchors settlement to water. Major towns and ports—Perth, Fremantle, Albany, Bunbury, and Geraldton among them—are clearly labeled, their roles within a growing maritime and overland system unmistakable. Political boundaries are distinguished in distinct colors, guiding the eye across counties and districts while preserving the primacy of terrain. An inset focuses on Perth and its environs, distilling the Swan River’s sinuous course, the relationship between the colonial capital and its harbor at Fremantle, and the emerging roadways that ran between them and out toward southern settlements. Routes radiate from these nuclei, mapping the measured reach of administration and commerce across a vast littoral.

Historically, the sheet captures the colony in its formative decades, when European understanding of the continent’s west was advancing from the shore inward. The maritime frame—etched over centuries by Dutch and British navigators—meets colonial surveys that anchor the Swan River Colony and the southern outpost at King George Sound, while inland tracts remain spacious, suggestive, and ripe for future discovery. Rivers such as the Swan, Canning, Avon, Murray, and Blackwood are carefully plotted, not merely as hydrographic facts but as the lifelines along which agriculture, timber, and pastoral interests would take hold. The map’s early road connections, threading Perth to Fremantle, Albany, and Bunbury, register the colony’s immediate logistical needs, even as the interior beyond Geraldton and toward later goldfields around Kalgoorlie-Boulder stands as an invitation to exploration.

John Arrowsmith’s authority lies as much in method as in line. Nephew to Aaron Arrowsmith, he distilled Admiralty charts, colonial surveys, and explorers’ journals into maps whose economy of style masked a wealth of vetted intelligence. The London Atlas—praised for its understated elegance and exemplary clarity—set a new standard for modern cartography, replacing decorative flourishes with disciplined typography, precise engraving, and a rigorous hierarchy of information. In this Western Australia sheet, that philosophy is unmistakable: counties glow with restrained outline color; typography differentiates towns, rivers, and coastal features without crowding; and the cartouche provides title and authorship with cool authority. The result is at once beautiful and useful, a document whose beauty emerges from its exactness and its careful orchestration of spatial knowledge.

Within the broader context of the London Atlas—whose 1842 edition offered a sweeping view of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean and was augmented by rare sheets dated 1844—this map stands out for the freshness of its colonial intelligence and the tact with which it is presented. It records Western Australia before statehood, at a moment when political divisions were newly inscribed, settlement was consolidating, and routes stitched isolated communities into a nascent network. Unrecorded in major collections and exemplary of Arrowsmith’s peak period, it distills an era’s ambitions and uncertainties into a legible whole: a finely balanced portrait where colored borders, named towns, and carefully chased rivers converge to show a colony poised between shoreline certainty and interior possibility.

Cities and towns on this map

• Perth (modern population: approx. 2 million)
• Fremantle (modern population: approx. 30,000)
• Albany (modern population: approx. 40,000)
• Bunbury (modern population: approx. 90,000)
• Geraldton (modern population: approx. 30,000)
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder (modern population: approx. 30,000)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Political boundaries marked with distinct colors.
• Major towns and rivers labeled.
• Detailed depiction of the coastline and geographical features.
• Insets showing specific areas, such as the city of Perth and surrounding regions.
• Roadways and routes connecting various settlements.
• The cartouche providing the title, author, and publication details.

Historical and design context

• Noted for understated elegance and clarity, marking it as one of the first modern atlases of the 19th century.
• The 1842 edition features fifty sheets with additional maps, including rare maps dated 1844.
• Offers insights into regions like Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean during that period.
• The atlas is unrecorded in major collections, highlighting its uniqueness and rarity.
• Bound in half-leather brown boards with "The London Atlas, by J. Arrowsmith." embossed on the cover.
• Most maps are in outline color, with inset maps remaining uncolored.
• Clear and colorful outline for different counties, offering a modern aesthetic for the time.
• Usage of labeled cartouche detailing the map's title and author in a clear, elegant style.
• Reflects the early cartographic efforts of European settlers and their understanding of Australian geography.
• Captures a moment in time in Western Australia's development before it became a state.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 16in (40cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.