Murray - Darling Basin Wall Map 1902

Murray–Darling Basin — Wall Map (1902)

A rivered spine through four states—headwaters to mouth, billabongs to barrages—this 1902 classic gathers the Murray–Darling Basin into one clear, flowing portrait. Tributaries ladder down from Queensland, the Darling threads south, and the Murray carries the country’s great inland story towards the sea. Towns and sidings, locks and weirs, wetlands and parks—each layer turns a hydrological map into a record of how water shapes place.

Why it captivates

• The whole system at a glance — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia linked by one basin-wide view.

• Water and people intertwined — towns, railheads, locks and weirs sit beside rivers, wetlands and national parks.

• Time-capsule clarity (1902) — an early twentieth-century snapshot before later engineering schemes and change.

• Scholarly & beautiful — disciplined linework and calm typography read cleanly from across the room.

What you’ll see

• State borders with towns, rivers & tributaries, lakes, wetlands and national parks.

• Locks and weirs, navigation notes and water infrastructure pinned along the main stem.

• Clear drainage structure that makes sense of catchments, confluences and floodplains.

• Period finish preserved—titlework, neatline and a balanced hierarchy for names and features.

A richer historical frame

At the turn of the twentieth century, governments were learning the basin in detail—where water ran, pooled and overflowed—and how towns and farms relied on those movements. This 1902 edition sits at that hinge: a precise, readable ledger of rivers and works that prefigures a century of planning, regulation and debate. It is both a working document and a cultural artefact: evidence, arranged with care.

Choose your finish

Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)

Best for: framing under glass in studies and living spaces
Look & feel: non-glare matte that preserves fine linework and small labels

Laminated (true encapsulation)

Best for: classrooms, offices, libraries, shared spaces
Build: sealed edge-to-edge between two 80-micron gloss sheets
Benefit: wipe-clean, durable, moisture-resistant

Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)

What you get: encapsulated print plus natural lacquered timber rails top & bottom with a discreet hanging cord
Where it shines: foyers, schools, councils—polished look with everyday toughness
Install: arrives ready to hang (just add a wall hook)
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for professional rail mounting

Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)

Best for: premium interiors, boardrooms, galleries
Print system: pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for long display life
Presence: textured surface adds warmth and museum-style depth

Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)

What you get: canvas fitted with natural timber rails top & bottom, matching cord
Where it shines: statement walls, curated displays, heritage spaces
Install: ready to hang; single-hook friendly
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for rail mounting

Sizes (W × H)

• 708 × 1000 mm — tall, readable presence with generous river detail

• 992 × 1400 mm — commanding portrait for larger rooms and public foyers

At-a-glance materials

Styling ideas

• Water & planning wall: pair with a caption card on catchments, locks and key confluences.

• Council foyer or library: choose Laminated + Rails for a polished, robust display.

• Study or boardroom: hang Canvas + Rails above timber cabinetry for warmth and authority.

• Research nook: frame the paper edition; keep a magnifier handy for tributary names and works.

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Planners, educators & libraries explaining Australia’s largest river system

• Historians and collectors of water, agriculture and infrastructure heritage

• Councils, museums & galleries curating basin-wide context and debate

• Interiors seeking calm, informed cartography with lasting presence

Claim your wall. Choose Paper for crisp, frame-ready clarity. Go Laminated + Timber Rails for tough, ready-to-hang polish. Step up to Archival Canvas + Timber Hang Rails for gallery weight. Printed in Australia with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks. Built to last. Hang it. Live with it. Keep the river close.