Author(s): David Hill

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On the afternoon of 8 April 1802, in the remote southern ocean, two explorers had a remarkable chance encounter. Englishman Matthew Flinders and Frenchman Nicolas Baudin had been sent by their governments on the same quest: to explore the uncharted coast of the great south land and find out whether the west and east coasts, four thousand kilometres apart, were part of the same island. And so began the three-year race to compile the definitive map of Australia. Written from diaries and other first-hand accounts, this is the thrilling story of men whose skill and determination enabled Terra Australis Incognita to become Australia.