John Hunter was one of the captains that accompanied the ‘First Fleet’ to Australia in 1788. In command of the fleet’s flagship, after landing at Sydney Harbour in January, Hunter led a short expedition to explore the Parramatta River, the main river that flows into the Harbour.

On his return to Britain, Hunter published this book which describes the voyage and provided further information about Australia. The text is notable for being one of the first to suggest that there was a strait between Australia and Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania). Earlier expeditions and surveys, including that of Captain Cook, had believed that Tasmania was a peninsula of the larger landmass.

Hunter would return to Australia in 1795 to succeed Arthur Phillip as governor of New South Wales. As governor he encouraged further British exploration of Australia.