The Aboriginal Trade Superhighway: Songlines and the Ancient GPS of Australia
Long before modern technology, maps, or GPS, Australia’s Indigenous peoples developed an extraordinary navigational and trade system that spanned the vast continent for over 40,000 years. Known as Songlines, these oral maps were not just pathways—they were living cultural libraries, preserving history, geography, and spiritual traditions.
These ancient trade routes connected deserts, mountains, rivers, and coastal regions, allowing for the exchange of tools, food, knowledge, and even genetic diversity between distant Aboriginal nations. Unlike modern highways, which rely on signs and landmarks, Songlines were memorized through stories, songs, and dances, ensuring they were passed down through generations.
Let’s explore how Indigenous Australians used Songlines as an ancient trade sup...




















