What was the Australian climate like before official weather records began? What do tree-rings, ice cores and deep-sea coral measurements tell us? What do Indigenous seasonal calendars reveal? And what do settler diary entries about rainfall, droughts, bushfires and snowfalls show about the continent's natural climate cycles? Sunburnt Country pieces together Australia's climate history for the first time. It shows a continent always vulnerable to climate extremes and variability. It gives an unparalleled perspective on how human activities have altered patterns that have been in existence for millions of years, and what climate change in our own backyard looks like. Sunburnt Country highlights the impact of the warming planet on Australian lifestyles and ecosystems but also the power individuals have to shape future life on Earth.