Spanning more than 400 years, from the first documented sighting of the Southern Cross in 1516 to the Rudd Government's national apology to the Stolen Generations, this anthology presents in chronological form a richly varied spectrum of 100 historical documents that, like pieces in a mosaic, contribute to a broad understanding of some of the key moments in Australia's history. John Thompson's diverse and eclectic selection - illustrated with facsimile documents, portraits, maps and photographs of related events - draws on a range of historical texts: journal and diary entries, official commissions, charters and proclamations, speeches of various kinds, letters and cables, newspaper editorials, press announcements and despatches written by journalists, petitions, Acts of Parliament, court judgements and manifestos.