This collection investigates the historical record of European exploration in Australia through the primary accounts of those who navigated its interior and coastline. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, a noted historian, curates these selections to provide a direct window into the motivations, observations, and challenges faced by early explorers. The book serves as a scholarly framework for understanding the colonial perspective and the geographical documentation of the continent during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Historians and educators frequently cite this work as a reliable and accessible entry point for students of Australian colonial history. The academic rigor of the selection process is often praised for maintaining the integrity of the original documents while providing necessary historical context.