William Blakdowski was an explorer, natural scientist and artist who lead a Victorian government expedition to the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers in 1856 to 1857. This is the first publication in English of his Australien in 142 photographiscen Abbildungen nack zehnjärigen Erfahrungen, a nineteenth century illustration encyclopaedia of Aboriginal life. In "Australia", Blandowski explores the potential images to portray the lives of people engaged in everyday activities as well as dramatic conflicts and rituals. Blandowski used his own photographs, and photographs of sketches or illustrations created by others, including the only nineteenth century portrait image of the Nyeri Nyeri people. In "Australia", blandowski's illustrations provide an intimate view of Aboriginal life, making us on-the-spot participants in moments of 'first contact'.