[1] The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the arrival of the First Fleet and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's legal challenge to the foundation of Australia.

[1] The series comprises seven episodes in which it explores what unfolded when the oldest living culture in the world was confronted by the British Empire.

[3] The series was the winner of multiple awards, remains the highest-selling educational title in Australia as of 2021[update], and was also sold overseas.

[5] When SBS first came to ask me if I were interested in doing a major documentary series on Indigenous history I enthusiastically agreed although I had no idea what it would be.

Although First Australians cannot hope to be as comprehensive as the work of these historians, it will provide the public (in the comfort of their own homes), a taste of the story that remains to be understood.

[7] The series featured writer Bruce Pascoe and historians Marcia Langton, Janet McCalman,[8][9][10] and Gordon Briscoe.

[1] A book entitled First Australians: An Illustrated History was published by Miegunyah Press in 2008 to accompany the series, edited by Rachel Perkins and Marcia Langton.