BENNELONG (1764?-1813) was an Aboriginal captured in 1789 by Governor Phillip’s men so that the English could discover more about the Aboriginal culture. Bennelong escaped the following year and had not been seen for several months until one day he was spotted at Manly Cove. A whale had been speared and many Aboriginals were gathered on the beach. As Bennelong introduced another Aboriginal to Phillip, the Aboriginal, who wasn’t sure why Phillip had stretched out his arms in a gesture of greeting, threw a spear at Phillip. Though the spear went through Phillip’s shoulder and out the other side the Governor survived. Bennelong spent some years living in the colony in a house built for him by Phillip at Bennelong point where the Opera House stands today. He travelled to England with Phillip to be presented to King George 11 in 1792. Bennelong returned to Sydney with the next Governor, Hunter, but his life became very difficult as he was now, not fully accepted by either the English or the Aboriginal people.
(Source: manly.nsw.gv.au)
(Source: manly.nsw.gv.au)