Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane

A simple dice rolling race around Australia in the immediate post-Federation period (1910s). Recorded in National Archives of Australia as first registered and exhibited in 1911.

Start in any state/federal capital. Roll one die to move. Get an extra roll if you land on a state/federal capital (square space). Lose a turn if you land on other towns (large circles). Return to you starting city on an exact roll to win. If a roll would land you on an already-occupied space, you don't move, and lose that turn.

The map shows the Northern Territory as still belonging to South Australia (not the Commonwealth, to whom it was handed over in 1911). The space for Canberra is named simply 'Federal Capital', and not 'Canberra' and the city of Darwin still named Port Darwin (changed in 1911). This suggests initial creation of the game between c.1903-1910.

There are two known versions of the game, one featuring an illustration of a brown Wright flyer and mounted on a thick cardboard backing and beautiful gilded edging. The later edition featured an illustration of a red and yellow racing biplane similar to a Hawker Hart of the 1920s with a slight variation to the title being 'Around the Commonwealth Aeroplane Game'. The later version was also smaller and printed on lighter cardboard and packaged in a box with a red border and yellow strip. The game boards are otherwise identical, the map not being updated.