Rottnest Island, Wadjemup

Here we have an old survey map of Rottnest Island, the small slip of land that sits just off the coast of Western Australia near Perth. Its second name, Wadjemup, comes from the Whadjuk Noongar people, the traditional custodians of this region, and it translates roughly to "place across the water." The map carefully traces the island's coastline, its salt lakes, and its many bays, with labels marking spots like Salmon Bay and Porpoise Bay. A large central area is set aside as "Public Recreation," covering some 4,000 acres, which tells us this drawing was made when the island was being planned as a place for people to visit and enjoy.

Maps like this one are not really art in the usual sense, but they carry a quiet beauty all their own. The careful hand lettering, the fine contour lines showing the rise and fall of the land, and the soft aged tone of the paper all give it the feel of something made with patience and care. The work was produced by cartographers, the surveyors and draftsmen whose job was to measure and record the world as accurately as they could.

It is worth knowing that Rottnest carries a heavy history beneath its peaceful appearance. For decades the island was used as a prison for Aboriginal men, and many died there far from home. A document like this, focused on leisure and recreation, sits in interesting contrast to that darker past, reminding us that a single place can hold many very different stories at once.