Australasia Eight Lectures Prepared for the Visual Instruction Committee of the Colonial Office

"Australasia" by A. J. Sargent is a series of early 20th-century lectures that explore the lands down under, focusing on its unique geography, plants, animals, and the story of European colonization. The narrative begins by recounting the very first European encounters and expeditions, including those led by Captain Cook and Abel Tasman, while also tracing early thoughts and theories about the great southern continent. From vivid descriptions of its diverse landscapes and native species to stories about the people who first called it home, the lectures piece together an understanding of the region’s natural wonders and the difficult history of its socio-political transformation under colonial rule.