This vintage lithograph map of Balmain, Sydney offers a richly detailed glimpse into one of the city’s most historically layered neighbourhoods. Carefully drawn and full of period character, it captures Balmain as it was known in the nineteenth century, when its streets and shoreline were closely tied to industry, trade, and the working harbour beyond.
The map reveals Balmain’s strong maritime foundations — from shipyards and wharves to tightly packed streets that grew around them. It reflects a time when the suburb was a centre of shipbuilding and heavy industry, long before its gradual shift into the residential and cultural enclave it is today. Familiar streets sit alongside long-vanished industrial sites, illustrating how the area has continually adapted and evolved.
Printed with fine detail and a restrained, historical palette, this piece works equally well as a statement artwork or a quiet study in urban history. Ideal for Balmain locals, lovers of Sydney’s past, or collectors of vintage cartography, it’s more than decoration — it’s a thoughtful record of a suburb shaped by labour, water, and community.
Fun fact: In the late 1800s, Balmain was so heavily industrialised that it was once nicknamed “the blackened Balmain,” a reference to the coal dust and smoke that filled its air during peak shipbuilding years.
What's Included?
PRINTED ART: 1
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁
- Printed on premium quality 230gsm paper with archival inks
- Made to order in Australia
- Framed with locally sourced sustainable timber
- Framed prints have a white matboard (passepartout)
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Print only prints include a minimum 10mm white border as part of the final print size. Refer size guide here.
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Please note our prints are vintage reproductions, and as such, they may exhibit blemishes, ageing, imperfections, discolouration, and scratches, which we believe reflects their authentic vintage character.
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Please also note that final print colours may vary from what you see on your screen due to how screens display images and individual monitor calibration.
