Geo. R. Broadbent's Holiday Map Fifty Miles Round Melbourne
A Companion Publication To Broadbent's Road & Railway Map Of Victoria
Published by G.R. Broadbent: Melbourne 1925 (Fifteenth Year Of Issue)
Includes Large Foldout Map Measuring 73cm Wide x 91cm Tall
"
Geo. R. Broadbent's Holiday Map: Fifty Miles Round Melbourne is a landmark piece of early Australian motoring and tourism history, produced at a time when leisure travel by car, motorcycle, and bicycle was rapidly transforming how Victorians experienced their own state. Issued in 1925 as the fifteenth year of publication, this guide was designed specifically for week-enders, motorists, cyclists, and holiday-makers, offering a practical yet aspirational vision of short excursions radiating from Melbourne. It reflects the growing cultural push to "See Victoria First," encouraging urban residents to explore nearby coastal, rural, and mountain destinations rather than travelling interstate or overseas.
The accompanying booklet provides detailed descriptions of half-day and full-day outings, tourist resorts, scenic drives, and places of interest, supported by period advertising that vividly captures the interwar motoring world—featuring garages, motor oils, tyres, hotels, and early automotive dealers. At its heart is the impressive large fold-out map, measuring approximately 73 × 91 cm, which clearly delineates roads, railways, towns, distances, and holiday locations within a fifty-mile radius of Melbourne. The map is both a functional navigation tool and a striking visual artefact, illustrating the expanding road network and the central role of Melbourne as a hub for regional travel in the 1920s.
Published by G. R. Broadbent in Melbourne as a companion to Broadbent's Road & Railway Map of Victoria, this edition stands as an important document of Australian transport, tourism, and social history. Combining cartography, travel writing, and commercial ephemera in one cohesive publication, it offers a rich snapshot of how Australians planned leisure and mobility in the early motor age. This work would appeal to collectors of Australian maps, motoring and transport historians, and those with an interest in early Melbourne and Victorian tourism."
General wear and light staining to paper covers. Some creases. No loose pages. Large foldout map had a lengthy tear that has been reverse side tape repaired - presents & folds well. Pages age toned but otherwise clean and the book presents well. Please study photos to further understand condition.
