Summary

This item is one of our 50 Treasures: Celebrating 50 years of James Cook University.

Ron Store answers the question 'Why is this significant?'

The map, created by Leopold Franz Landsberg, held in Special Collections at the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, was purchased with the financial assistance of the Landsberg family in 1992. The late Gordon Landsberg, of Trafalgar Station, was the grandson of Leopold.

The map is based on the explorations of Leichhardt, Mitchell and Gregory and covers the area of Queensland from latitude 23° to latitude 18°. It gives detailed descriptions of land quality along the explorers' routes which are marked. Land relief is shown by finely detailed hachures. Comments such as 'marshy land', 'a large body of water seen from the hills at Cape Cleveland' are noted on the map.

This type of folded map was conveniently small for travellers and settlers and could be stored in a saddle bag or pocket. Folding maps mounted on linen or some other material also avoided the usual wear and tear of standard paper maps.

Landsberg's motivation for producing this map and two others in 1860 was probably to assist settlers and pastoralists. The previous owner of this map has made some hand annotations on it suggesting it was possibly used by a pastoralist.

In a letter held at John Oxley Library, dated 23 April 1860, to Colin Archer of Gracemere, Rockhampton, Landsberg writes that Gregory, then Surveyor-General, 'asked me if I would undertake to publish a map of the Burdekin country if he would furnish me with his survey he made on his expedition out there.' He notes that Gregory's work 'is the most reliable source for information of that part of the colony, especially as Leichardt's map for that part of the country is not very reliable'. The map was almost certainly engraved and printed in Sydney.

Leopold Franz (Francis) Landsberg was born at Gdansk in 1832 and emigrated to Australia in 1855. By the time Landsberg left, Gdansk (formerly a Polish city) would have been part of Prussia. By 1860 he was in Queensland working as a surveyor and is credited with creating the first map of the new colony of Queensland. As well as his mapping work he undertook surveying work. He seems to have lived an intense spiritual life, was physically fit and painstaking in his work. As a relatively recent immigrant to Australia, his written English was also exceptional. Landsberg qualified as a surveyor. A surviving diary from 1861 records some surveying work on the Darling Downs.

He eventually settled in Rockhampton where he died in October 1888. He was an extraordinary man who made an important contribution to the development of early Queensland.