Description

Title: A Complete Street Directory City and Suburbs of Melbourne
Author/Publisher: H.E.C. Robinson Pty. Ltd.
Publication Year: 1942
Format: Illustrated Hardcover

Sydney : H.E.C. Robinson Pty. Ltd., Published in 1942. 24.5 cm tall. Binding taped. The maps in this Directory cover an area of 10 to 19 miles from the General Post Office. This particular directory is the first edition of Robinson's Street Directory of Melbourne and Suburbs. It was published to fulfill a long felt need for a clear and up to date directory of Melbourne.

Herbert Edward Cooper Robinson (1857?-1933), map publisher, was baptised on 6 January 1858 at Winchester, Hampshire, England, sixth child of Sidney Rudge Robinson (d.1898), medical practitioner, and his first wife Katherine Emily, née Cooper. About 1863 he arrived with his family in Victoria where his father set up practice in Ryrie Street, Geelong. In his early twenties Robinson moved to Sydney where he joined the public service as a temporary draughtsman. On 9 August 1879 he married Augusta Carolina (d.1914), née Dahlquist, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. In 1882 he set up in business as Higinbotham, Robinson & Harrison, map publishers and lithographers. Harrison withdrew from the venture in 1887 and next April Higinbotham & Robinson was declared bankrupt; they were discharged in October after paying 4s. 2d. in the £. Robinson rejoined the public service as a contract draughtsman in the Department of Mines.

In 1895 Robinson set up his own map-publishing business in Wentworth Court, moving in 1906 to Phillip Street and in 1913 to permanent location at 221-223 George Street. In November 1917 H. E. C. Robinson Ltd was officially incorporated with seven share holders and Robinson as managing director. Business flourished, especially during World War I when there was a demand for maps showing the progress of the war. From the 1920s Robinson published a notable series of maps of the pastoral stations of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. H. E. C. Robinson's soon became a byword for maps throughout Australasia; as well as its wide variety of sheet, wall and special purpose m

Synopsis

Presented here is a foundational and historically significant reference work: the 1942 first edition of Robinson's street directory for Melbourne. Published by H.E.C. Robinson Pty. Ltd., this volume was conceived to meet a critical demand for an accurate and comprehensive guide to the city and its surrounding suburbs during a pivotal year in Australian history.

As an original first edition, this non-fiction work offers a detailed cartographic and informational snapshot of Melbourne at the height of World War II. It served as an indispensable tool for navigation and understanding the urban landscape for residents and visitors alike, encompassing a broad swathe of the metropolitan area.

• Comprehensive Street Cartography: The directory features detailed maps illustrating the intricate network of streets across the City and Suburbs of Melbourne. These maps specifically cover an area extending from 10 to 19 miles from the General Post Office, providing an extensive and practical guide for the era.
• Historical Urban Record: Beyond mere navigation, this volume stands as an invaluable historical document, preserving the precise layout and nomenclature of Melbourne's thoroughfares as they existed in 1942. It offers a unique window into the city's development and infrastructure during a significant period of national life.

This early Robinson directory represents a key artefact for collectors of Australian automobilia, urban history, and historical cartography. Its status as a first edition and its direct connection to Melbourne's wartime era make it a compelling piece for those seeking to connect with the city's past and the evolution of Australian mapping.

Condition

This item has been professionally inspected and is in Acceptable condition. Please refer to the photographs for detailed visual assessment.

Specifications