eHive Object Details

Name/TitleThe Wondermap of Melbourne; an aerial perspective drawing of Melbourne, from Royal Park to Glenferrie (in north) and Port Melbourne to Elsternwick (in south), 1934

About this objectA reproduction of a aerial perspective pictorial map showing the City of Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs, which was created to celebrate Melbourne's centenary in 1934. It is detailed and colourful with cartoonish elements. The original Wondermap was 30 x 40 inches (76 x 102 cm) in size, and was drawn by John Power Studios.

The detail includes houses, shops and factories, hospitals and monuments including the Shrine of Remembrance, and the Zoological Gardens complete with animals. Each suburb and some main city streets are labelled above an arch picked out in red. Boats, trains, trams and cars feature. "No Parking" signs pop up out of the Melbourne City grid. People, many with speech bubbles, populate the beach, streets, and open spaces. On the lower left of the map, there is a figure pointing off to the west saying, "We could could not fit Melbourne's big industrial suburbs in."

The beach and streets are coloured yellow, some trees are red, the open spaces are green, and the river, sea and Albert Lake are dark blue. The map is edged in green gum leaves and red gum nuts. There are small square coloured drawings of Aboriginals engaged in various activities, three along each edge; and Capt. Lonsdale's Cottage, middle top, and the First Police Station, middle bottom edge. To make the slide, these images have been truncated.

A decorative compass is in the top right corner, and there are three scrolls displaying various information. The smallest and plainest scroll, in the bottom right, gives the name, John Power Studios, and address of the maker of The Wondermap of Melbourne. The largest scroll, coloured yellow, in the bottom left corner, invites viewers to look at Melbourne City "from a dizzy height".

The Centenary Year scroll, in the top middle, features an open book and a Father Time drawing above the date, 1934. The page on the left of the book displays some information about Melbourne, and the right hand page is left blank for autographs.

One of the many glass slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund.

For more information about this image contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria

MakerGunn's Slides (Firm)

Maker RoleSlide Maker

MakerJohn Power Studios, 499 Lt Collins St, Melbourne

Maker RoleCartographer

Inscription and MarksDecorative Scroll (Middle, top) : "Centenary Year: / Melbourne; has a population exceeding 1,000,000 and covers an area approximately 10 miles square -/ Autographs; (blank page) / 1934"
Yellow Scroll (bottom, left): "We show you Melbourne City, but from a dizzy height. Come see it as we know it; you'll vote it very bright!".
Small plain scroll (bottom, right): "THE WONDERMAP OF MELBOURNE drawn by JOHN POWER STUDIOS for Wonder Maps / Aust / Henty House 499 Lt Collins St Melbourne"

Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm

Period1930-1940

Object TypePhotograph

Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956

Subject and Association KeywordsMelbourne (Victoria.)

Subject and Association KeywordsMaps

Subject and Association KeywordsCentenary of Melbourne

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-BCS-21

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved