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The Godfrey family of Melways guides

2009
Francis Reiss, June Orford and Tim Ainsworth (printer)

inkjet print on paper (sheet: 42.0 cm x 59.3 cm, image: 40.0 cm x 55.2 cm)
Image not available (NC)

Mervyn Godfrey OAM (1924-2013), Dean Godfrey (b. 1970), David Godfrey (b. 1951) and Murray Godfrey (b. 1958) are respectively the founder, managing director and directors of the mapping company Ausway. Merv Godfrey trained as a draughtsman with the Victorian Lands Department and served as a radio operator in the RAAF in World War 2. After the war he worked for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and became a founding member of the Institute of Cartographers. Having worked on the Olympic Games map of Melbourne in 1956, he proposed to a publisher friend that they produce a better Melbourne street directory than those currently available. Godfrey resigned from the SECV in 1961 to embark on the project. Working from his home in Glen Waverley, he drew pen and ink maps of Melbourne's streets that his partner, Iven Mackay, would then drive around to check. For the first edition the typesetting was carried out by Godfrey's wife Barbara on a hand letterpress machine in their garage; a specially-made camera reduced the scale of the maps he drew. In May 1966, after five years' toil, the first Melway was produced. Over the ensuing years the Melway enterprise expanded to premises in Malvern, Glen Iris and Mount Waverley and the 'cottage industry' aspects of its production became more sophisticated. The Godfrey family assumed full ownership of the business in 1989. Thirty-six more editions over the years to 2009 saw many new structures, urban features and services added to the maps. In 1994 a Sydway was produced; 2005 saw the introduction of the Brisway. From 2003 the maps were GPS compatible and in 2008 the eway electronic Melway Street Directory was introduced. Now Ausway Managing Director Dean Godfrey oversees a team of ten drivers who spend eleven months of the year updating all of the company's street maps. David and Murray are Ausway directors.

Mervyn Godfrey OAM (1924-2013), Dean Godfrey (b. 1970), David Godfrey (b. 1951) and Murray Godfrey (b. 1958) are respectively the founder, managing director and directors of the mapping company Ausway. Merv Godfrey trained as a draughtsman with the Victorian Lands Department and served as a radio operator in the RAAF in World War 2. After the war he worked for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and became a founding member of the Institute of Cartographers. Having worked on the Olympic Games map of Melbourne in 1956, he proposed to a publisher friend that they produce a better Melbourne street directory than those currently available. Godfrey resigned from the SECV in 1961 to embark on the project. Working from his home in Glen Waverley, he drew pen and ink maps of Melbourne's streets that his partner, Iven Mackay, would then drive around to check. For the first edition the typesetting was carried out by Godfrey's wife Barbara on a hand letterpress machine in their garage; a specially-made camera reduced the scale of the maps he drew. In May 1966, after five years' toil, the first Melway was produced. Over the ensuing years the Melway enterprise expanded to premises in Malvern, Glen Iris and Mount Waverley and the 'cottage industry' aspects of its production became more sophisticated. The Godfrey family assumed full ownership of the business in 1989. Thirty-six more editions over the years to 2009 saw many new structures, urban features and services added to the maps. In 1994 a Sydway was produced; 2005 saw the introduction of the Brisway. From 2003 the maps were GPS compatible and in 2008 the eway electronic Melway Street Directory was introduced. Now Ausway Managing Director Dean Godfrey oversees a team of ten drivers who spend eleven months of the year updating all of the company's street maps. David and Murray are Ausway directors.

Mervyn Godfrey OAM (1924-2013), Dean Godfrey (b. 1970), David Godfrey (b. 1951) and Murray Godfrey (b. 1958) are respectively the founder, managing director and directors of the mapping company Ausway. Merv Godfrey trained as a draughtsman with the Victorian Lands Department and served as a radio operator in the RAAF in World War 2. After the war he worked for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and became a founding member of the Institute of Cartographers. Having worked on the Olympic Games map of Melbourne in 1956, he proposed to a publisher friend that they produce a better Melbourne street directory than those currently available. Godfrey resigned from the SECV in 1961 to embark on the project. Working from his home in Glen Waverley, he drew pen and ink maps of Melbourne's streets that his partner, Iven Mackay, would then drive around to check. For the first edition the typesetting was carried out by Godfrey's wife Barbara on a hand letterpress machine in their garage; a specially-made camera reduced the scale of the maps he drew. In May 1966, after five years' toil, the first Melway was produced. Over the ensuing years the Melway enterprise expanded to premises in Malvern, Glen Iris and Mount Waverley and the 'cottage industry' aspects of its production became more sophisticated. The Godfrey family assumed full ownership of the business in 1989. Thirty-six more editions over the years to 2009 saw many new structures, urban features and services added to the maps. In 1994 a Sydway was produced; 2005 saw the introduction of the Brisway. From 2003 the maps were GPS compatible and in 2008 the eway electronic Melway Street Directory was introduced. Now Ausway Managing Director Dean Godfrey oversees a team of ten drivers who spend eleven months of the year updating all of the company's street maps. David and Murray are Ausway directors.

Mervyn Godfrey OAM (1924-2013), Dean Godfrey (b. 1970), David Godfrey (b. 1951) and Murray Godfrey (b. 1958) are respectively the founder, managing director and directors of the mapping company Ausway. Merv Godfrey trained as a draughtsman with the Victorian Lands Department and served as a radio operator in the RAAF in World War 2. After the war he worked for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and became a founding member of the Institute of Cartographers. Having worked on the Olympic Games map of Melbourne in 1956, he proposed to a publisher friend that they produce a better Melbourne street directory than those currently available. Godfrey resigned from the SECV in 1961 to embark on the project. Working from his home in Glen Waverley, he drew pen and ink maps of Melbourne's streets that his partner, Iven Mackay, would then drive around to check. For the first edition the typesetting was carried out by Godfrey's wife Barbara on a hand letterpress machine in their garage; a specially-made camera reduced the scale of the maps he drew. In May 1966, after five years' toil, the first Melway was produced. Over the ensuing years the Melway enterprise expanded to premises in Malvern, Glen Iris and Mount Waverley and the 'cottage industry' aspects of its production became more sophisticated. The Godfrey family assumed full ownership of the business in 1989. Thirty-six more editions over the years to 2009 saw many new structures, urban features and services added to the maps. In 1994 a Sydway was produced; 2005 saw the introduction of the Brisway. From 2003 the maps were GPS compatible and in 2008 the eway electronic Melway Street Directory was introduced. Now Ausway Managing Director Dean Godfrey oversees a team of ten drivers who spend eleven months of the year updating all of the company's street maps. David and Murray are Ausway directors.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2009

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Francis Reiss (age 82 in 2009)

June Orford (age 63 in 2009)

Tim Ainsworth

Dean Godfrey (age 39 in 2009)

David Godfrey (age 58 in 2009)

Mervyn Godfrey OAM (age 85 in 2009)

Murray Godfrey (age 51 in 2009)

Subject professions

Business, trades and industry

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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