Omission of Tasmania from maps of Australia explained

The Australian island state of Tasmania is sometimes omitted from maps of Australia. Such omissions often provoke outrage from Tasmanians.

Early omissions

In 1909, the Daily Post of Hobart reported that "very often maps of the Commonwealth... are not graced with the fair island of Tasmania depicted on them."^[1]

1982 Commonwealth Games

During the 1982 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, performers created a map of Australia that omitted Tasmania.^[2] English-born Australian poet Andrew Sant wrote "Off the Map" in response:

Identity deleted,Close to the ContinentWho wouldn't make a fuss?There have been wars for less...^[3]

2014 Commonwealth Games

The Australian swim team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games were issued training swimsuits with a stylised design featuring maps of Australia, along with kangaroos and emus. The animals obscured Tasmania, and the design was criticized for leaving Tasmania off the map. Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman called the omission "un-Australian and unforgivable".

Other incidents

• Australian athletes at the 1956 Summer Olympics, held in Melbourne, wore tracksuits that featured a map of Australia excluding Tasmania.^[4]
• In 2000 the island was left off the Australian map in some of the official literature for the Sydney Olympics.^[5]
• Tasmania was omitted from the map of Australia shown on some promotional posters of the 2008 film Australia.
• In 2012, Arnott's Biscuits produced a biscuit in the shape of mainland Australia.^[6]
• In 2013, South Australia adopted a logo that omitted Tasmania.^[7]
• In 2016, Woolworths Supermarkets were forced to withdraw Australia Day caps from sale which featured a map of Australia without Tasmania.^[8]
• In 2019 Thins Crisps released a Pie & Sauce flavour crisps which had a map of Australia with Tasmania omitted on the package.
• Many editions of the board game Risk do not include Tasmania (or New Zealand).^{[9] [10]}

State of Invisibility exhibition 2022

In October 2022, publicist Hamish Thompson held an exhibition called State of Invisibility highlighting the absence of Tasmania from national maps, souvenirs and federal memorabilia. This seemed to strike a chord, and was covered by local and national press throughout Australia.^{[11] [12] [13]}

See also

• Omission of New Zealand from maps

Notes and References

1. News: Looking after Tasmania . . II . 171 . Tasmania, Australia . 20 July 1909 . 22 July 2020 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Hope. Emma. We demand an apology for snub after Tasmania is left off the map again. 1 February 2015. The Mercury. 25 July 2014.
3. Book: Shakespeare. Nicholas. Nicholas Shakespeare. In Tasmania: Adventures at the End of the World. 2010. 26. Random House . 1 February 2015. 9781407074153.
4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/shirley-strickland-holds-her-gold-medal-won-in-the/4185508 Image
5. Web site: Where the devil is Tasmania? Bluffer's . bluffers.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121203034211/http://bluffers.com/tasmania . 2012-12-03.
6. News: Jones. Grant. Tasmania is missing from inside a box of Australia-shaped biscuits by Arnott's Shapes. 1 February 2015. Daily Telegraph. 13 January 2012.
7. Web site: Usher. Melanie. South Australia New State logo. HIT 107. 1 February 2015.
8. News: Calligeros. Marissa. Woolworths forced to withdraw Australia Day merchandise after leaving Tasmania off hats. 20 January 2016. The Age. 20 January 2016.
9. Web site: Hasbro . Risk Game . Hasbro Shop . Hasbro . 27 January 2023.
10. Web site: SMG Studio . RISK: Global Domination . Steam . Valve . 27 January 2023.
11. News: Cutting . Lucie . 2022-10-31 . Left off the map, exhibition highlights the many times Tasmania has been forgotten . ABC News . 2023-04-06.
12. News: Kidman . John . 2022-10-29 . Exhibition casts Tassie as invisible state . The Western Australian . 2023-04-06.
13. News: Bilton . Ross . November 2022 . What's Missing? A kitsch love song to the state of invisibility . The Australian . subscription . live . https://archive.today/20230406184817/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/hamish-thompsons-state-of-invisibility/news-story/bfc4b9886f9713e18bfc2a2ffc3d99a8?amp&nk=cd014d1785f57a3d7e5c32a8aab29581-1680806906 . 2023-04-06.