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