Australian Geographic

The Australian Geographic is a quarterly geographical magazine-style journal created by Dick Smith in 1985. It focuses mainly on stories about Australia, or about Australian people in other countries. The six editions published each year are available by subscription only.

The journal is known for its poster included in each edition as well as high quality photographs, excellent maps from award-winning mapmakers and detailed technical illustrations. The 10th anniversary edition featured one of the country's most comprehensive maps of exploration ever produced. These maps have been used by explorers crossing Central Australia and Antarctica.

Australian Geographic now also runs a frequently updated online news service with three to four news articles, features, image galleries and blogs online each day.[1]

It was published by Australian Geographic, a privately-owned organisation that also managed a chain of retail stores similarly named in Australia.[2] Each year, a portion of the profits is given to the Australian Geographic Society,[3] the non-profit arm of Australian Geographic which supports scientific research as well as environmental and community projects. Funds are also used to highlight and support Australian adventurers and produce related diaries, calendars and books. There are also 70 Australian Geographic retail stores which sell products including Australiana, Weather stations, telescopes, books and toys, these are now owned and run separately to the journal.

Contents

History

The publication's offices were originally based in Terrey Hills north of Sydney. Smith was advised to include his name on the cover to aid the journal's establishment. After two years he removed his name from the cover. Smith wanted the publication to focus on accuracy by exclusively including articles that were peer-reviewed. In 1995, when subscriptions totalled more than 200,000, the publication was sold to Fairfax.

From September 2000 to December 2001, Australian Geographic published a bimonthly science and technology magazine known as Newton Graphic Science. There were, however, only eight issues published before the magazine went permanently out of print. In 2001 the journal's offices were threatened by fires during the Black Christmas bushfires.

Today the journal is owned by ACP Magazines (who purchased it in 2006) and is based in Goulburn Street Sydney. Dick Smith no longer has direct editorial control over content found in the journal, but remains as chairman of trustees of the Australian Geographic Society. The current editor-in-chief of Australian Geographic is Ian Connellan.

Awards

Each year the society bestows awards as a celebration of achievement and not a competition as such, not all categories are awarded annually.[4]

Adventurer of the Year

Year Recipient[4]
2010 Linda Beilharz
2009 Andrew Lock
2008 Josef Truban
2007 Lloyd Godson
2006 Tim Cope
2005 Andrew McAuley
2004 Jon Johanson
2003 Sue Fear
2002 Jon Muir
2001 Tammy van Wisse
2000 Dick Smith
1999 David Mason
1998 David Lewis
1997 Syd Kirkby
1996 Don & Margie McIntyre
1995 Dennis Bartell
1994 Len Beadell
1993 Warwick Deacock
1992 Ron and Valerie Taylor
1991 Warren Bonython
1990 Hans Tholstrup
1989 Dot Butler
1988 Philip Law
1987 Colin Putt

Young Adventurer of the Year

Year Recipient[4]
2010 Jessica Watson
2009 Angus Paradice
2008 James Castrission and Justin Jones
2007 Rex Pemberton
2006 Stephen Fordyce and Roger Chao
2005 Rex Pemberton
2004 Chris Bray and Jasper Timm
2003 Christopher Harris
2002 Tim Cope
2001 Jeremy Richardson, Jarlath Weingott and Angus Weingott
2000 Krista Bernard
1998 Chris Hatherly
1997 David Dicks
1996 Mark Shearer & Eric Croker
1994 Damon & Deanne Howes
1992 James Woodford and Adam Kerezsy
1991 Jeremy Durbin
1990 John Weir
1989 Richard Wood

See also

References

External links