Geological Map Of The Country Around Salisbury – Rhodesia – 1958 – First Edition

Cartographer: R. M. Tyndale-Biscoe
Publisher: Geological Survey, Department Of Mines And Industries
Price: £245 (post-free in the UK)
Publication Date: 1958
Edition: 1st edition
Format: Colour printed
Condition: In very good condition
Sheet Size: 102.1cm x 77.9cm

Condition:

Size: 102.1cm x 77.9cm. Scale: 1:50000. Numbered 01446 in bottom left hand corner. Includes much detail on the town of Salisbury itself. Old fold lines. Creasing and minor marks and wear. In very good condition overall. Scarce. Worldcat lists only four copies only in institutions worldwide.

Location: DOBRLTUBE 002817

Salisbury, Rhodesia: A Historical Overview

Founding and Early Colonial Period
Salisbury, the city now known as Harare, was founded on 12 September 1890 by the Pioneer Column, a force organised by Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company (BSAC). The site was selected for its highveld location, which provided a temperate climate, defensible terrain, and proximity to rivers and transport routes. It was named Salisbury in honour of the then British Prime Minister, the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.

Originally established as a fort and administrative centre, Salisbury quickly became the capital of the newly proclaimed territory of Southern Rhodesia in 1923, following the end of direct BSAC rule. From its earliest days, it served as the political, commercial, and military hub of the colony.

20th Century Growth and Urban Development
During the early 20th century, Salisbury grew steadily, buoyed by the expansion of railway networks, the discovery of gold, and increasing agricultural activity, particularly maize and tobacco farming. Its urban form took shape around a colonial grid plan, with government buildings, churches, and shops constructed in an Edwardian and later Art Deco style.

European settlers dominated the city’s administration, economy, and social life, while the African population — which grew rapidly — was largely segregated into outlying townships. Mbare, established in the 1900s (originally called Harari Township), became the first high-density suburb for black Africans and remains a key part of the city’s identity.

By the mid-20th century, Salisbury had developed the infrastructure of a modern colonial capital — complete with schools, hospitals, banks, theatres, and parks. It was officially declared a city in 1935, and by the 1950s was one of the most developed urban centres in sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa.

Federation Era and Political Tensions
From 1953 to 1963, Salisbury served as the capital of the short-lived Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which united Southern Rhodesia with Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). This period saw significant economic growth and investment, but also rising African nationalism and growing opposition to white minority rule.

Following the collapse of the Federation, political tensions escalated sharply. In 1965, the white-minority government under Ian Smith issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain, in defiance of international law and pressure to establish majority rule. Salisbury became the capital of the unrecognised state of Rhodesia, facing diplomatic isolation and increasing conflict with African nationalist movements.

Towards Independence and Renaming
The 1970s were marked by the Rhodesian Bush War — a brutal and protracted conflict between the Smith regime and nationalist forces such as ZANU and ZAPU. Salisbury, as the centre of government and commerce, was both strategically significant and symbolically charged.

Following the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979 and a period of transition under British oversight, Rhodesia formally became the independent nation of Zimbabwe in April 1980. One of the new government’s first acts was to rename the capital: Salisbury became Harare on 18 April 1982, taking its name from the historic Shona chief Neharawa.

Legacy
Today, the name Salisbury is a legacy of Zimbabwe’s colonial past — a period marked by profound contrasts: development and dispossession, modern infrastructure and systemic racial inequality. The city itself, now Harare, continues to reflect layers of its complex history, from colonial-era buildings and street names to the enduring divisions and transformations of the post-independence era.

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