Northern Territory Stock Routes & Pastoral — Wall Map (1956)
Red-dirt corridors, windmills and long homestead distances—this 1956 classic gathers the Northern Territory’s pastoral stations and stock routes into one clear, working portrait. Lease names read like family signatures; droving lines step across rivers and scrub; towns and sidings sit lightly while the country’s logic of water, distance and season takes the lead. Part chart, part memory, it brings post-war Territory pastoral life back to your wall—practical, grounded and quietly evocative.
Why it captivates
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Post-war snapshot (1956) — the NT’s leases and stock routes captured as consolidation reshaped stations and movements.
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All the lifelines — routes, homesteads and regional structure shown with disciplined mid-century drafting.
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Human scale — tenure patterns and track geometry that speak to bores, seasons and the cadence of droving.
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Scholarly & beautiful — a working reference that doubles as refined décor.
What you’ll see
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Stock routes laid across the Territory in relation to pastoral lease boundaries and named stations.
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Regional divisions & key settlements that anchor wayfinding across vast country.
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Hydrology cues (rivers, creeks, coastline) that explain route choices and station siting.
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Period finish preserved — calm typography, titlework and a tidy neatline that read cleanly across a room.
A richer historical frame
A decade after WWII, the NT’s pastoral economy ran on water, distance and time—formalised leases, marked droving lines, and sidings that linked inland to market. This 1956 edition condenses that living system into a single legible sheet: evidence arranged with care, where land, livestock and people shaped one another across extraordinary spaces.
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 and 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, councils, libraries—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 and 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)
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670 × 970 mm — tall, portrait presence with generous lease and route detail
At-a-glance materials
| Option | Best for | Key benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Paper (160 gsm) | Framing under glass | Matte clarity; crisp period detail |
| Laminated (encapsulated) | Busy/shared spaces | Wipeable; tough; edge-to-edge protection |
| Laminated + Rails | Ready-to-hang public display | Professional mount; easy install; durable |
| Canvas (395 gsm) | Premium display | Archival inks; textured depth; gallery appeal |
| Canvas + Rails | Gallery-ready feature | Period-true presentation; simple hanging |
Styling ideas
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Pastoral heritage wall: add a caption card noting family stations, stock routes or seasons.
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Council or library foyer: choose Laminated + Rails for a polished, robust display.
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Study or boardroom: hang Canvas + Rails above timber cabinetry for warmth and authority.
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Research nook: frame the paper edition; keep a magnifier handy for lease names and boundaries.
Specifications
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | Northern Territory Stock Routes & Pastoral — Wall Map |
| Edition | 1956 |
| Region | Northern Territory (state-wide leases and stock routes) |
| Type | Historical pastoral & movement network map |
| Content Highlights | Stock routes; pastoral leases; station names; regional divisions; hydrology cues; period lettering & neatline |
| Finishes | Paper; Laminated (encapsulated); Laminated + Timber Rails; Canvas; Canvas + Timber Rails |
| Lead Time (Rails) | Up to 10 working days (laminated or canvas with rails) |
| Orientation | Portrait |
| Size | 670 × 970 mm (W × H) |
| Production | Made in Australia |
Who it’s for
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Station families and descendants tracing Territory pastoral lineage
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Historians, educators & libraries documenting NT rural economy and movement networks
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Museums & councils curating stock-route and settlement heritage
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Collectors & designers seeking authentic mid-century cartography with quiet authority
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 country close.
