Freycinet was a French marine officer and explorer, who participated in several significant early 19th-century expeditions to relatively unknown areas in the southern hemisphere. In 1800, he joined one of the most important early explorations of Australia, which was commissioned by the French government and commanded by Nicholas Baudin. On this voyage Freycinet served as a surveyor and was responsible for conducting a thorough cartographic survey of the Australian coast and the nearby Indonesian archipelago. Freycinet later commanded the Uranie on a circumnavigation that completed numerous scientific observation in South American, the South Pacific and Australia, and is credited with publishing one of the first complete maps of Australia in 1811. Maps depicting inland features of Australia did not begin to appear until the 1830's.

This rare map details the southeastern coast of Australia from Port Phillip to Moreton Bay, identifying 19 counties in New South Wales. Sydney and Brisbane are both located on the map, although Melbourne does not yet appear as it was not declared a city until 1847. This map features significant inland detail including towns, roads, trails, rivers, and mountains. An inset in the upper-left corner shows all of Australia along with the surrounding islands, including Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Guinea.

References: Tooley (Australia), pp. xii-xiv, 82.

Condition: B+

Horizontal folds, with light scattered foxing, primarily in the blank margins.