Feature image: Instagram/ TheWollongongMap
There hasn’t been a birds-eye, hand-drawn map of Wollongong since 1840. Until now.
Local cartographer and artist, Alex Pescud, sought to capture a moment in time in Wollongong with his ambitious project, The Wollongong Map. We viewed the nearly complete map in Pescud’s art studio over the weekend and were blown away by its intricate level of detail.
Iconic landmarks such as Mount Keira, the two lighthouses, the Blue Mile walking track and the Port Kembla Steelworks are precisely depicted as they stand today. The Norfolk Island Pines at North Wollongong Beach wave at you from their exact locations. Intricate details of our bustling city, including cranes suspended above structures under construction, create a current and one-of-a-kind picture of Wollongong.
“I wanted to create an artistic impression of this city, to show its character from an impossible view. A view that couldn’t be seen in a photo or even if you were there in person,” Pescud told the Tertangala.
His creative endeavour started during the first COVID lockdown, when he drew landscapes to celebrate local businesses and foster a much-missed sense of community.
“I drew buildings of shop fronts that people I knew worked at or owned and put them on my Instagram. I posted a sketch and their opening hours.”
This idea expanded in scope as he set out to depict the favourite locations of a whole community all in one map. It wasn’t an easy feat.
“I defined the area on a large piece of paper by drawing the roads, the shoreline and the mountain line. From there, I walked the streets and took hundreds and hundreds of photos of buildings from different perspectives, using sketches to figure out how they fit together. I discovered which buildings block the view of others and how they might look if you were up in a helicopter. Using this process, I gradually added all the features in, from the shoreline to the back of the escarpment, first in pencil and then in pen.”
We asked Pescud what keeps him motivated. It was clear that he was passionate about giving back to the city he grew up in.
“Wollongong has something for everyone. It is full of good surfing, swimming, and snorkelling spots. The mountains offer bike rides, rock climbs, and bushwalk trails. There are cafes and bars. There’s opportunity here. Opportunity to learn with UOW. Great places to work. Public transport. It’s an exciting part of the world.
“I can’t wait for people to interact with the parts of the map that mean the most to them. The locations that are connected to joyful memories or important parts of their lives.”
Pescud calls the map his gift to the Gong, and we couldn’t agree more. The Wollongong Map has brought the vibrant essence of this city to life and is a keepsake for residents and visitors alike. It is also only weeks away from completion.
You can stay updated on Pescud’s progress and watch him cross the finish line by following him on Instagram @TheWollongongMap.