"Becker's work in particular is world-class scientific illustration and landscape art, created under the worst imaginable circumstances, and it is beautifully reproduced here. A book that gives a new picture of an important event in Australian history, it is necessary for scholars in the field, and would be informative and enjoyable for any reader interested in natural history, art, Victorian exploration, or Australia."

Doug McCann is Honorary Fellow at the School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne. Bernie Joyce is Honorary Principal Fellow at the School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne.

Foreword / Peter Thorne -- List of contributors - Acknowledgements - Introduction / Dave Phoenix -- Chapter 1 Conflicting priorities: exploration, science, politics and personal ambition / Doug McCann and Bernie Joyce -- Chapter 2 William John Wills as scientist / Frank Leahy -- Chapter 3 Geology, soils and landscapes of the expedition route / Bernie Joyce and Doug -- Chapter 4 The botanical legacy of Ferdinand Mueller and Hermann Beckler / Linden Gillbank -- Chapter 5 Zoology: an encounter with the fauna of Australia's unique arid environment : Introduction / Bernard Mace -- Mammals / Peter W. Menkhorst -- Birds / Rory O'Brien and Craig Robertson - Reptiles / Bernard Mace -- Fishes / Bernard Mace -- Insects and other invertebrates / Alan L. Yen -- Chapter 6 Hydrologic insights of inland Australia / C. R. Lawrence -- Chapter 7 Meteorology: a remarkable set of early inland observations / John A.T. Bye -- Chapter 8 The space between: Aboriginal people, the Victorian Exploring Expedition and the relief parties / Harry Allen -- Chapter 9 Conclusion: rewriting history / Doug McCann and Bernie Joyce -- Appendixes: Timeline of principal events / Doug -- Expedition personnel / Doug McCann -- Biographies of the principal scientists/ Dave Phoenix -- Instructions to the leader and scientific officers -- The art of the Victorian Exploring Expedition / Elizabeth Ninnis -- Index .