In May 1792, a scientific expedition lead by Bruny d'Entrecasteaux anchored in Recherche Bay on the southern Tasmanian coast. The d'Entrecasteaux expedition spent a total of 9 weeks at Recherche Bay in 1792 and 1793, making a range of scientific observations, and was the first significant meeting between the Tasmanian aboriginal people and Europeans..

In February 2006, this historic area was bought by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, and to celebrate that outcome the Australian Academies held a symposium in January 2007, with experts in several disciplines exploring the historical, scientific and cultural significance of Recherche Bay. This book is the result.

The attractive 160-page paperback features numerous colour figures, including maps, photos and historic prints, and retails for $29.95

Introduction by John Mulvaney and Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe

1. Alan Frost, From the hills of Provence to the coast of Van Diemen's Land : The Expedition of Antoine-Raymond-Joseph Bruny d'Entrecasteaux, 1791-1793
2. Michael Pearson, Nothing Left Undone: The Hydrographic Surveys Of Beautemps-Beaupré.
3. Gintaras Kantvilas*, Labillardière and the Beginnings of Botanical Exploration in Tasmania
4. Stewart Nicol*, J'étais convaincu qu'il dormait' European views of a unique Australian mammal.
5. John Mulvaney, Meeting the Tasmanians.
6. Iain Davidson, Tasmanian Aborigines and the origins of language.
7. Ian Rae, The Technology of Whaling: Why They Did it, and How.
8. J-C Galipaud, The Lost Garden of Recherche.
9. Joan Domicelj, A land mapped by stories.
10. Aynsley Kellow*, Right Deeds and Wrong Reasons: The Politics of Nature, History and the Preservation of Recherche Bay.
11. Tom Baxter*, Legal Lessons from the Recent History of Recherche Bay.
12. David Lindenmayer, The conservation and management of ecological communities.

* University of Tasmania