July 22nd 1802 (morning), 

Today I will be setting off, setting off on my boat (the HMS Investigator), and sailing around Terra Australis, I will be charting and mapping the coastline of this land mass. By my side will be Trim, a cat that will be with me and my crew all the way along the ocean. A ship is not complete without a surgeon too, George Bass will also be accompanying me on the voyage. After I complete my voyage, I will sail back to England with all my mapping and notes, this expedition may months, or even years, but I am willing to complete the task before me.

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July 22nd 1802 (night), 

At around midday I set sail on the expedition, there were no problems so far. I am sailing anti-clockwise to go to the top of the Colony of New South Wales, the over to New Holland then down to Cape Leeuwin. The area I am most afraid of are the great southern waters, they haven’t been fully explored by anyone so far. I will pass through the Bass Strait which my crew and I discovered in 1798 whilst circumnavigating Tasmania.

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December 17th 1802 (midday), 

I have grown to be quite fond of this land and the name “Terra Australis” doesn’t fit the same qualities, I have settled on a new name for this area. Australia. The ship is approaching Cape Leeuwin, at the south-west corner of Australia, and then the southern waters. Not many people have ventured through the waters, and it will be quite dangerous.

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March 25th 1803 (afternoon), 

I am right where I don’t want to be, I am in the middle of the southern waters of Australia. The weather has been terrible lately, constant rain, grey sky and dark clouds; life has been tough on the Investigator. We have Trim to keep us company, sometimes we play cards including today a few hours ago or doing something amongst ourselves. I have no idea what it will be like once the voyage returns to Port Jackson, it has nearly been a whole year. I should get back to my mapping, Australia is starting to look more like Australia now, however, the big inside of this land mass is still yet to be discovered.

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June 9th 1803 (afternoon), 

Earlier today, at sunrise, the ship arrived at its home, Port Jackson. I am not going to be staying here long, after all, I have to give my notes and charts to someone, that was the whole point of the expedition. On my way to Britain, I will fix up the parts I weren’t sure about and check all my notes, that may take longer than the real voyage. For now I am just going to rest.

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