Pre-settlement exploration of Tasmania and the natural sciences: the Clive Lord Memorial Lecture 1983

The unfolding of knowledge of Australian natural history as a result of the visits of marine explorers is briefly reviewed, particular attention being paid to Tasmania. The importance of the D'Entrecasteaux and Baudin expeditions is stressed, the unique observations of the Baudin expedition on the Tasmanian Aborigines being emphasised.
The observations of exploring expeditions must form the basis for the study of the ecology of the Australasian region because they provide evidence as to the state of the country before it was disturbed by European settlement.