The Australian Race

The author provided an explanation for writing the book (in four volumes).
In the introduction, Curr explained the prime motive behind
his research:

"As raison d’être for this publication then, it may be pointed out that
when the author drifted into his undertaking, many tribes were passing
away, leaving no record behind them, and no one seemed likely to step
in and do what was necessary for ethnology." Letter to the Argus