History of Australia and New Zealand from 1606 to 1890

The volume offers a sweeping survey of how Australia and New Zealand moved from the first European sightings in the early seventeenth century to the bustling colonies of the late nineteenth century. It begins with the daring voyages of early navigators, describing how the mysteries of the southern oceans were gradually replaced by detailed charts and the first encounters with Indigenous peoples. The narrative then follows the establishment of penal settlements, the mapping of coastlines, and the early attempts to understand a land far removed from familiar Mediterranean maps.

As the colonies expanded, the book traces the rise of agriculture, the feverish gold rushes, and the growth of cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. It also devotes attention to the complex interactions between European settlers and the Māori and Aboriginal communities, illustrating both conflict and cooperation. Richly accompanied by period illustrations—from Cook’s portrait to scenes of early townships—the work paints a vivid picture of a continent in transformation.