"In a few day's time the Beagle will sail for the Galapagos Islands. I look forward with joy and interest to this, both as being somewhat nearer to England, and for the sake of having a good look at an active Volcano."
Today we are surrounded by colour printed images - from the pages of magazines to the humble baked beans tin - but there was a time when such images were an expensive luxury, available only to a wealthy elite.
A new exhibition of maps at the Cambridge University Library tells the story of how European cartographers charted Australia. Timed to coincide with the centenary of Australia's foundation as a federal state, the exhibition begins with the early imaginary maps of the 16th century and ends in 1901, when the British colonies were united into a nation with a federal structure. The exhibition is being opened today (Monday 2 April, 2001) by the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Michael L'Estrange.
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