Historical information

This is one of the earliest surveys and maps of Warrnambool harbor, Lady Bay. Being done in 1853, it shows the depths of the bay area marked in fathoms, currents and directions and areas of rocks around mouth of the Merri and the Western side of the bay as well as a large sand spit to the middle right of the beach region.. It also marks the large areas of seaweed and fuci in the outer bay area. It has the area of Pertobe Lagoon marked and shows the early tracks to the town. The engraving work was done by Tulloch and Brown, with Tulloch being one of the earliest engravers and lithographers in the state of Victoria. He arrived in Melbourne in 1849 and set up business with James Davie Brown in 1853 with Brown being a map engraver. They were awarded bronze and silver medals for their work at the Victorian Industrial Exhibition. He also worked in the vignettes on the Proeschel Map of Victoria.

Significance

This map is of high historical and comparitive significance as it shows the Lady Bay area prior to the changes that have occurred in the last 160 years with the building of the breakwater. The issue regarding access to Lady Bay remains a current one. The engraver D Tulloch engraved some of the earliest scenes of the goldfields in Ballarat and as such has left a record of a very early and important era in Australian history.

Physical description

Rectangular cream paper with black text. Map area is outlined by fine black lined border. Key in top right hand corner and scale at bottom middle of map.

Inscriptions & markings

Map is labelled Town of Warrnambool printed at top of map. Small logo at top right corner which has “Hydrographic Department” in circle around an anchor. Lady Bay Warrnambool Surveyed by John Barrow assistant surveyor Engraved by Tulloch & Brown in bottom right corner. Melbourne engraved by order of the legislative Council of Victoria in middle bottom.