This map first appeared in a Japanese magazine in September 1919. Everything points to it having been originally published by the Australian government to encourage immigration.
In 1918, Australia had less than five million inhabitants, despite being the fifth largest country in the world. Following the American model, the Australian government launched a major propaganda campaign to attract people to the new country.
This map is part of that propaganda campaign. It compares the size of all European countries, showing how their total area corresponds to only a strip of Australia's coastal territory. This comparison aims to highlight the great opportunities in a country with a small population (5 million inhabitants) compared to the problems of an overpopulated continent (450 million inhabitants).
In addition to the territory, the map also makes clear reference to the country's wealth of mining and agricultural resources, suggesting the possibility of achieving a favourable situation relatively quickly.
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