Discoveries in Australia, Volume 1. / With an Account of the Coasts and Rivers Explored and Surveyed During / The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43. / By Command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a Narrative / Of Captain Owen Stanley's Visits to the Islands in the Arafura Sea.

The narrative chronicles prolonged coastal surveys and river explorations around Australia and adjacent islands undertaken by a naval expedition, blending precise hydrographic observations and charts with onshore sketches and geological notes. It interweaves natural-history descriptions of plants, birds, and other fauna with accounts of landings, inland reconnaissance, weather and navigational hazards, and detailed encounters with Indigenous peoples. Contributions from officers and specialists supplement the voyage notes with appendices on biology and topography, producing a practical record of maritime exploration and scientific observation.