This work investigates the historical perception and physical reality of the Australian bush as encountered by early European explorers and settlers. Edward Kynaston, an established historian, utilizes primary source documents, journals, and letters to reconstruct the initial encounters between colonial figures and the unfamiliar, often harsh, Australian landscape. The book argues that the bush served as a transformative force that shaped the identity and psychological state of those who attempted to traverse or inhabit it.

Historians and researchers frequently cite this text for its extensive collection of primary source material regarding colonial exploration. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous look at the historical record of the Australian interior.