PSR 3: Primary Source Report on Walkabout, Vol.19 No.6, 1953 By Sebastian Mauger-Hollmann

Circulation

Walkabout was first published in 1934, with copies sold for 1 shilling each. Publication ended in 1974, where more than double the number of copies were published, and were sold for 50 cents each.

Every magazine in this collection was trimmed with a distinctive red boarder. Walkabout was the first Australian national travel promotion, which quickly became a favourite amongst readers due to lack of competition. The magazine was primarily a travel, natural history, and geographic magazine, which focused primarily on Australia and the Pacific.

Editor

Charles Holmes was Walkabout’s founding managing editor, retiring 1957.

C. S. Weetman was appointed associate editor in 1936.

Basil Atkinson was editor until 1960, where Graham Tucker, and later Brian McArdle followed. Along with this, there is an exhaustive list of contributors and photojournalists including Australia’s most significant authors, novelists, journalists and commentators.

Implied Reader

Walkabout was primarily focused on readers with an interest in travel, although because travelling was expensive, upper class readers were more likely to read it as they could afford to travel to the places advertised within Walkabout.

Contents

This particular issue (Vol.19 No.6) is strewn with adverts ranging from new vehicles, to motor oil, clothing, and places to travel. Alongside the adverts are chunks of articles ranging from Australian history, to recent news. The magazine is also filled with pictures of various things such as of native peoples, explorers, tropical and arctic locales, products, and artwork.

The adverts take up a large portion of space with a focus on travel, or travel related products (such as new cars, and clothing for specific environments). Several of the adverts place emphasis of being the envy of others when one was to purchase the product, as well as promoting places as unique and unforgettable experiences.

Walkabout is very much a social magazine which does present itself with a great amount of hubris in being the best and only promoting the best things.

Format

This issue contains 52 pages and is primarily printed in black & white. There are a few adverts printed in simple colours, but otherwise the main colouring can be found on the cover with the use of the red band.

References

Australian Geographical Society & Australian National Publicity Association & Australian National Travel Association. (1934). Walkabout Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-747348438