Captain James Cook's journey to the eastern coast of Australia was a pivotal moment in the age of exploration. As he sailed aboard the HMS Endeavour, Cook and his crew conducted detailed mapping and observation of the coastline and the indigenous peoples they encountered. On August 21, he anchored at a location now known as Botany Bay, where he conducted thorough surveys and recorded his observations about the land's natural resources and potential for settlement. This pivotal moment saw Cook raising the British flag on the eastern Australian shores, marking the beginning of British territorial claims in the region.

Cook's declaration of New South Wales was instrumental in reinforcing the British Empire's ambitions in the Pacific. The claim was made under the pretense of scientific discovery, yet it was intertwined with imperial interests of the era. While the indigenous peoples had been living on the continent for millennia, Cook's action initiated a long period of colonial expansion and conflict over land ownership and resources. Notably, his journals provided detailed sketches and descriptions that ignited interest back in Britain regarding the viability of Australia as a potential colony.

The formal claim of New South Wales led to a wave of exploration and eventual settlement by British convicts and settlers. It set the stage for the establishment of Sydney and the broader development of Australia as a British colony, impacting not only the indigenous cultures but also global maritime trade routes. Cook's journey hence became a cornerstone of Australian history and the history of British colonial expansion.