Western Australia — Swan River & Rottnest Island (1841)
The Admiralty chart that opened Perth to the world
Before Perth had ports, marinas or Fremantle Harbour, there was the narrow, shifting entrance of the Swan River — protected offshore by Rottnest Island and ringed with shoals, reefs and sandbanks. This magnificent 1841 British Admiralty chart, surveyed by Commander John Lort Stokes and engraved by J. & C. Walker, records the moment Western Australia’s capital was finally given a safe maritime gateway.
Published in London in 1845 by the Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty, this was the working chart that guided naval vessels, migrant ships and traders through the treacherous approaches to the Swan River colony.
This is not a decorative map.
It is the blueprint of Perth’s birth as a port city.
⚓ What This Chart Shows
This beautifully detailed Admiralty sheet lays out the approaches to Western Australia’s most important river system.
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Rottnest Island and surrounding reefs
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The full Swan River entrance and estuary
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Garden Island coastal profile — a visual pilot’s guide
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Shoals, sandbanks and navigational hazards
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Hundreds of bathymetric soundings showing safe depths
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Coastal relief shown by hachures and spot heights
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Greenwich prime meridian — true Admiralty navigation standard
This was the chart captains depended on to safely reach Perth.
🧭 Why This Chart Works
Most harbour maps show shorelines.
This shows how ships actually reached them.
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Surveyed by Commander John Lort Stokes — one of Australia’s greatest hydrographers
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True British Admiralty production — the world’s gold standard
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Extraordinary technical detail — soundings, shoals and coastal profiles
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Historic authority — used by colonial ships and naval vessels
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Museum-grade engraving by J. & C. Walker
This is the chart that turned the Swan River from a hazard into a working harbour.
✨ Premium Finishes
Every Swan River & Rottnest Island (1841) Admiralty Chart is printed in Australia using archival methods to preserve the fine engraving and historic character.
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| 📜 Paper (160 gsm matte) | Smooth heavyweight archival paper with superb line clarity. Ideal for framing under glass. |
| 🧼 Laminated (True Encapsulation) | Sealed between 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate for full edge-to-edge protection. Tear-resistant and wipe-clean — perfect for clubs and offices. |
| 🖼️ Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte) | Printed on premium HP canvas using pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for a warm, gallery-grade finish. |
| 🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails | Laminated chart mounted between natural timber rails with hanging cord — ready to hang. Allow up to 10 working days. |
| 🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails | Canvas finished with lacquered natural timber rails for an elegant frameless maritime display. Allow up to 10 working days. |
📐 Size
1000 mm (W) × 683 mm (H)
A commanding landscape wall format that brings the historic Swan River entrance and Rottnest Island into crisp focus.
🎯 Ideal For
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Maritime and naval history collectors
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Yacht clubs and sailing organisations
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Museums and libraries
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Architects and heritage interiors
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Anyone who loves Perth’s maritime story
🤝 Our Commitment
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Printed in Australia with professional colour management
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Archival pigment inks for long-term stability
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Premium laminates and canvas for durability
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Natural timber hang rails for elegant presentation
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Hand-checked and carefully packed before dispatch
Perth was built through this narrow sea gateway.
Choose your finish and bring the chart that made it possible onto your wall.
