A pictorial map of Australia from the Second World War

A propaganda map of Australia, showing how the industry and agriculture of the continent was helping the war effort. Little vignettes mark the cattle, sheep, grain and wood regions, and icons note the various types of mining, with a key on the left. The map is decorated with Australia's coat of arms and a large compass rose. A text box reads: 'In War and Peace. Australia's industrial resources have been completely reorganised to meet war-time demands. Her factories are now turning out armaments of many types and aircraft, including fighters and bombers. Her shipbuilding programme includes destroyers, minesweepers and merchant vessels. In addition, Australia is contributing to a great wheat pool which will help to feed the starving peoples of Europe when the war is over' . Leslie MacDonald Gill (1884-1947), younger brother of Eric Gill, specialised in graphic design in the Arts and Crafts style. His most important commission was from the Imperial War Graves Commission, designing the script used on Commission headstones and war memorials, including the 'Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme'. He produced a number of maps, two of which appeared in the British Museum exhibition 'Magnificent Maps in 2010: 'The Wonderground Map of London' (1914) & 'Tea Revives the World' (1940). This was one of a series of wartime maps of the Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand Canada.