Before Google Maps, before GPS, before Siri told you to turn left in 200 metres… there was the UBD.
And it’s official: the 2026 edition of the iconic Gregory’s Perth UBD Street Directory will be the final one ever printed.
96FM confirmed the news with The Chart & Map Shop in Freo, who’ve been flooded with orders since word got out.
“Yes, it is the end of an era. We were informed a few weeks ago and are still very disappointed by the decision,” the team told us.
“We’re getting lots of orders for the UBD, by the way”
They also mentioned a sharp drop in sales last year may have prompted the decision – though it’s unclear whether that call came from Gregorys or the publishers.
While WA will still be looked after by Quality Publishing Australia (QPA) – a local publisher who understands the value of keeping hard copy maps alive – it’s unclear what the plan is for other states.
“QPA has been making maps and road atlases for WA for a while now,” they said.
“He knows how important hard-copy maps still are.”
And in a bit of unexpected timing, the shop says one customer claimed Google Maps will soon require ID verification, which might give even more West Aussies a reason to hang on to the old-school paper version. (We’ll keep an eye on that.)
For so many of us, the UBD wasn’t just a map – it was a rite of passage. It lived in your glovebox, your boot, or tucked behind the seat. You’d flip through it with your finger tracing the grid, muttering: “Where the hell is G10?”
Smartphones might be faster, but they’ll never beat the satisfaction of cracking open that heavy book and finding your way, page by page. Also, what happens when the network drops out?
If you want to grab a slice of Perth history, give your local bookshop or newsagent a buzz. The Chart & Map Shop told us they have a shipment arriving next week.
