History of Australia and New Zealand from 1606 to 1890

A chronological narrative recounts early European voyages and coastal landings, the foundation of penal settlements, and subsequent maritime charting and overland expeditions that opened the interior. It follows the emergence of separate colonial administrations, urban growth, economic shifts including a major mineral rush, and patterns of migration and settlement. Distinct chapters treat island colonies and western and northern regions, while exploration and pastoral expansion receive focused attention. The concluding sections examine encounters between settlers and indigenous peoples, evolving political institutions, and the social and economic landscape that shaped the colonies by the late nineteenth century.