The Territories
A Cabinet of
Antipodean Curiosities
2015 — 2018
The Territories logo
Photo: Ona Janzen
After completing a series of projects that involved research into Australian history, Heath discovered that almost every aspect of the country’s culture and identity are connected to its unique landscape. The Territories was created as a small publishing lab in response to this finding, in order to continue to discover great untold stories and transform them into new products. Unbound by any commercial restraints, The Territories is free to experiment with a wide variety of new and old publishing methods and platforms, including risograph, newsprint, and blogs. The success of the project has lead to the creation of a passionate audience, sell out products, and recognition from institutions such as the Australian Museum and the National Library of Australia.
The Territories Masthead
The first incarnation of the The Territories was a website featuring news items, essays, photo galleries, and interviews. The focus was primarily on examining the intersection between art, history, and the environment. Heath interviewed painter Fred Fowler about his interest in invasive species and aboriginal rock art, as well as photographer Kurt Sorensen about his interest in mysterious 19th century tales of settlers getting lost in the bush. Additionally, essays from Joni Taylor on cattle stock routes and Jeremy Saunders on the role of landscape in Australian film were commissioned.
Interview with painter Fred Fowler
Interview with photographer Kurt Sorensen
Feature gallery of artist Marian Drew
Feature gallery of artist Peter Solness
Essay by Jeremy Saunders
Essay by Joni Taylor
A range of special features were also created for the website. One of these was called Original Landscape Soundtracks, in which a selection of musicians were invited to share the albums that evoke their sense of the Australian landscape. These musicians included Lawrence English, Gail Priest, Sophie Hutchings, Cameron Webb, and Joe McKee.Original Landscape Soundtracks (OLS) Logo
OLS contributor Gail Priest
OLS contributor Lawrence English
OLS contributor Sophie Hutchings
Sample of social media feedback on The Territories website
The first of the physical publishing projects by The Territories was On Land — a collection of five zines focused on different DIY utopias, such as Nimbin, a once dying dairy town that was transformed by a hippie festival in the 1970s and is still thriving today. Other editions in this series include a look at the introduction of Futuro houses into the Australian countryside, and the story of a Depression-era shantytown that still sits on a secluded cliff face near Sydney harbour.
On Land logo
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Photo: Ona Janzen
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Archival imagery collected for On Land
Photo: Ona Janzen
On Land — Series One
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Cover
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Cover
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Spread
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Essay
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Spread
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Spread
On Land “At the Dawn of Nimbin’s New Age” Spread
Social media GIF screens for “This is UFO Country”
On Land images shared by customers on Instagram
On Land Posters
Now in development is a hybrid recipe book, personal journal, and photo essay by chef, photographer, and forager Hannah Lawless on the New Zealand coast. Titled Elements, the publication will be divided into four sections: Rock, Sea, Sand, and Flora. It is both a survey of one of the most unique aspects of the New Zealand landscape and a collection of memories about growing up with all this remarkable food at your fingertips. Social media GIF screens for “This is UFO Country”
On Land images shared by customers on Instagram
On Land Posters
Elements branding
Icons for Elements
Elements Concept Art ● Photo: Hannah Lawless
Elements Concept Art
Elements Concept Art
Elements Concept Art ● Photo: Hannah Lawless
Elements Concept Art
Elements Concept Art
The Territories is proudly archived at the National Library of Australia in Canberra, through their invitation only digital service Pandora — a recognition of the projects national cultural significance.Elements Concept Art ● Photo: Hannah Lawless
Elements Concept Art
Elements Concept Art
Made on Awabakal & Worimi Lands