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Exploring Country: Hema Maps champions First Nations history through cartography
Words Justin Gill and Julija Zivanovic Pics Supplied
To celebrate the release of our all-new Australia Indigenous Journeys Map, Hema Maps National Product Manager Justin Gill shares how this product came to be and why we’re so proud to publish this representation of the world’s oldest living culture. Keep reading to learn more.
For more than four decades, Hema Maps has been the trusted name helping Australians and international travellers navigate and explore the vast and varied landscapes of our continent. From remote desert crossings to intricate regional tracks, Hema has built a proud legacy of mapping Australia’s red heart and beyond. Our latest release — the Australia Indigenous Journeys Map — goes far beyond physical navigation. It is a landmark cultural achievement that honours the deep, enduring connection between Australia’s First Peoples and Country.
This map, respectfully developed with guidance from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, is not just a product of geography — it is a map of memory, culture and legacy, representing the oldest continuous living culture on Earth.
A proud history of mapping Australia
As Australia’s leading mapping company, Hema has always stood for more than just maps. Since 1983, we’ve built our reputation through fieldwork, innovation and a deep love for the land. We've mapped deserts, rainforests, mountains and everything in between — but we have always recognised that we walk on Country that has been walked for millennia before us.
With this understanding, Hema Maps took on the Indigenous Journeys project as a cultural responsibility. We believe maps can do more than guide — they can educate, inspire, explain and empower. This new release is a proud step forward in our journey to reflect the full breadth of Australia’s history.
Australia’s First Map
The Indigenous Journeys Map brings to life what can be seen as ‘Australia’s First Map’: the networks of Songlines, trade routes and cultural pathways that have spanned this continent for more than 65,000 years.
Compiled by explorer and geologist James Allen, the project draws on extensive field research (2020–24) and was created with cultural input from Traditional Owners and the cartographic expertise of Craig Molyneux, a Gunditjmara man.
This map honours the thousands of kilometres Indigenous Australians travelled for ceremony, trade, storytelling, resource collection and social connection — long before modern state borders or roads. Alongside 250+ Indigenous language group names (sourced from AIATSIS), it offers a rare visualisation of the First Nations landscape before European colonisation and includes reference to key trade items and modern cultural experiences.
More than a map: A cultural milestone
What makes this map exceptional isn’t just what it shows, but how it was made. Deep respect was given to cultural sensitivities and the protection of First Australians’ Cultural and Intellectual Property. Hema Maps acknowledges that only our Traditional Owners have the legitimacy to speak for Country and tell the stories of Songlines.
We are also immensely grateful to Sam Hayward — Hema Maps Chairman — whose passionate leadership helped guide this often complex and sensitive project. With multiple interest groups, cultural perspectives and logistical hurdles, this project was no easy task — and Sam’s unwavering support was instrumental in its success.
This map is not just a publishing milestone; it’s a cultural contribution to all Australians. Whether you’re a traveller, educator, student or simply curious, it invites you to explore with greater awareness, to learn from ancient wisdom and to connect more deeply with the land we all call home.
A new way to explore
As Hema Maps celebrates more than 40 years of exploring Australia, the Indigenous Journeys Map marks a new kind of journey — one rooted in understanding and respect. It encourages every Australian to look not just at where we go, but how we travel — and who walked the land before us.
We are honoured to play a role in sharing these stories, and we invite you to carry them with you on your next journey.
Grab your copy today!
The Australia Indigenous Journeys Map ($15.95) is now available for purchase on the Hema Maps website or from our retail partners.
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