In 1770, James Cook and his crew aboard the HMS Endeavour became the first Europeans to set foot on the east coast of the continent now called Australia. Among those aboard the Endeavour were the captain, Lieutenant James Cook, naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander and artist Sydney Parkinson. From April to August 1770 they charted the east coast, collecting and sketching botanical and animal specimens.

The Navigating History stamp issue marks the 250th anniversary of this journey. The stamp designs seek to evoke curiosity, deepen understanding and amplify the story of the peoples and cultures that had thrived in Australia for 60,000 years, prior to the landing of the Endeavour.