Terra Australis: Text Classics

by Matthew Flinders, Tim Flannery (Editor)

In this edited selection of his journals, Matthew Flinders, Australia's greatest navigator and the man who named our island continent, describes in captivating detail his epic mission to map our shores between 1796 and 1803.

Edited and introduced by Tim Flannery, Terra Australis is a vital step toward a new understanding of our own history. Flinders tells of meeting and communicating with Aborigines, of the scrub and wilderness. His descriptions of the difficulties that he and his sailors faced still bristle with energy and immediacy two hundred years later. This is Flinders' story in his own words, neglected until now, but destined to be eagerly read by all ages.

First published in two-volumes in 1814, this is the enthralling account of the circumnavigation of Australia, by the man who gave our country its name.

Matthew Flinders was born in England in 1774. In 1789, defying his father's wishes that he enter the field of medicine, Flinders volunteered his services to the British Navy. He became the greatest early navigator of Australia, and explored the Australian coastline with George Bass in his eight-foot long vessel Tom Thumb and later Tom Thumb II. His account of his journeys, A Voyage to Terra Australis, is one of the great achievements of our literature.

Tim Flannery is a bestselling writer, scientist and explorer. He has published over a dozen books, most recently Among the Islands: Adventures in the Pacific. In 2011 he was appointed chief commissioner of the Australian Climate Commission.

textclassics.com.au

'Engrossing.' Age

'These texts convey well the nature of inshore maritime exploration then, and to Flinders's important contributions to the delineation of Australia.' Weekend Australian

'With a series of finely edited versions of Australian historical classics, of which Terra Australis: Matthew Flinders' Great Adventures in the Circumnavigation of Australia is the latest instalment, Tim Flannery and Text Publishing have made Australian history interesting again.' Australian Review of Books

'A fascinating document.' Sun Herald

'Flinders' detailed stories remain vivid to this day...described with the backdrop of the unforgettable wilderness of Australia.' Lobbyist

'The writing is fresh, clear and entertaining.' Australian Review of Books

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Australia, Reference

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1814

About the author

(For the 21st century political writer, see Matthew^^Flinders)

Captain Matthew Flinders RN was a distinguished navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent.

Reviews

[Michael G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm somewhat tempted to bump this up to four stars. It was a really great, interesting, curious read. It is in some way incredible that here in such cogent and readable writing is a description of my home country before it was settled. Matthew Flinders is a very human fellow, who loves and misses his wife, and cares about his fellow sailors.

The big negative, and this would not bother some people, is the absence of maps throughout the book. It was sometimes quite hard to follow exactly where Flinders was at certain points. It became much easier to understand when he began mapping the coastline of what is today South Australia, because I have a greater knowledge of the geography - I can recognise Fowler's Bay, Gulf St Vincent, the Investigator Strait, and so on. But much of the time I didn't have a particularly good understanding of where Flinders was. It wouldn't have been too hard to break the text up a bit and add some maps.

But the journey, oh, great stuff! My discover that Kangaroo Island is so named because they arrived there and with the kangaroos dull and unresposive, shot many of them and had a feast. The search for water. The Aboriginals, largely peaceful and good to deal with, occasionally thieving, and Flinders' affection for his friend on board, Bongaree. The shipwreck on the Great Barrier Reef and the rescue party to bring the sailors home. At times it is dull but there are moments of excitement.

If you're a fan of Australian history, worth a read. But, for most of us, this is probably a pass. It could be better with maps.

[Claire Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Australians should read this book. It's breathtaking.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute classic. Flinders was the grade A explorer, a master navigator and mariner and ship's master. I loved his descriptions of the new (to Europeans) territories he saw for the first time and precisely pinpointed on the map. I particularly enjoyed his description as he travelled through Bass Strait and proved that Tasmania was an island. In his dealings with the 'Indians' he appeared to be firm and fair, but clearly like most of the early colonial explorers was hampered by his lack of knowledge of aboriginal customs and language. I was disappointed that this book ends before Flinders reached Mauritius and his incarceration for several years by a vindictive French Governor and before he could relate his discoveries in Britain. I am now looking for a book that covers this period and the impact of his discovery on the powers that be, so any suggestions are welcomed.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

To get the benefit of reading this book you need an excellent knowledge of the geography of coastal Australia, and all its bays and islands. Failing this knowledge, the book is entertaining, but not one I would recommend to anyone other that someone with a real interest in Australian history.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most fascinating insight into the exploration of Australia, or New Holland as it was, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Flinders made five different trips from 1796 to 1803 around the coastline, mapping it and collecting species as he went. He sailed in the Tom Thumb, the Norfolk, the Investigator, twice, and the Porpoise.

His second trip in the Investigator was brought to an end because shipwrights condemned the boat and then when he sailed again in the Porpoise it ran aground, on appropriately named Wreck Reef! Flinders made a perilous journey in an open boat to get help and succeeded, saving all his documentation and instruments along the way.

On the occasions he made land he discovered kangaroos and many aborigines, some friendly others not so, and it is certainly eye-opening to read of his excursions in a then undiscovered country.

... and to think the television show Neighbours came from such modest beginnings!!!! And they sometimes beat us at cricket!!!!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry in many parts and more of an exercise in historical approaches to anthropology, I feel this would be of interest to anyone whose people are from the areas Flinders mentions (mid to north QLD & parts of the Strait) but the text misses the human aspect too much to be otherwise engaging. Flinders was a navigator, not a "discoverer".

If you're looking for a colonial take on "discovery" more generally, and are not concerned with Australia specifically, a more interesting book is Mungo Park’s "Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa", which is much earlier and describes interactions, trade and culture in greater depth.