Portarlington Map enters home stretch

THE Portarlington Map is in its final design stages following more than a year’s work by St Leonards map producer Melinda Clarke and illustrator Deborah Young-Monk.

Ms Clarke’s current project, The Portarlington Map, entered post-production on July 1 to amend minor changes to the final design of the original drawing.

Post-production is the final stage of the mapmaking process, which involves digital colourist Sean Rodwell filling in the design with colour.

Ms Clarke expects the black and white maps to be completed by the beginning of August, with the coloured maps to be completed by the end of September.

“It’s exciting and it’s kind of nice to be at the end of the process, where soon everyone connected to the map and the town of Portarlington will be able to share in the design,” Ms Clarke said.

Ms Clarke said the post-production portion of mapmaking is also a bit nerve-wracking.

“Deborah and I first started this project over 18 months ago when we were undertaking research of the town,” Ms Clarke said.

“We’re almost there though and it’s been a pleasure to take on a smaller project this time around.”

The Portarlington Map follows Ms Clarke’s previous project The Bellarine Map, which was released at the start of 2022 – an inspiration behind the original The Melbourne Map project first published in 1990.

Iconic landmarks and events such as Portarlington Grand Hotel, Portarlington Mussel Festival, National Celtic Folk Festival, Portarlington Pier and even the town-favourite Portarlington Chinese Restaurant will feature on the map’s final design.

Geelong print company Creffield Digital Print will handle the map’s final scans and final prints in the next two months.

“I would not have been able to complete my projects without the help of Creffield, I see them with artists all the time, but they still make my projects feel like the most important ones,” Ms Clarke said.

“It’s just a joy to work with them throughout the whole process.”

The Portarlington Map black and white prints are already available for pre-sale at www.themelbournemap.com.auPortarlington Map producer and St Leonards resident Melinda Clarke (right) standing with Creffield Digital Print Geelong manager Debbie Fallon (left) in front of the original drawing.