Bennelong
Bennelong (who also went by the names Wolarwaree, Ogultroyee and Vogeltroya) was from the Wangal people and is regarded as one of the most significant and notable Aboriginal people in the early history of Australia. He became one of the first to be ‘civilised’ into the European way of life, enjoying its ‘benefits’ and living with the settlers.
Bennelong was captured with Colebee in November 1789 as part of Governor Arthur Phillip’s plan to learn the language and customs of the local people in an attempt to aid relations between the two groups. Bennelong, like Arabanoo, soon adopted European dress and ways, and was trained in the English language. He is known to have taught the Sydney Aboriginal language to George Bass. He gave the Aboriginal name Wolawaree to Phillip to locate him in a kinship relationship in order to enable communication of customs and relationship to the land. Bennelong served the colonisers by teaching them about Aboriginal customs and language.
Bennelong was present when Governor Arthur Phillip was speared at Manly in May 1790 and later that year asked the governor to build him a hut on what became known as later known as Bennelong Point, the site of today’s Sydney Opera House. Here he entertained the Governor a year later.
Interestingly Bennelong’s second wife, Barrangaroo was opposed to her husband’s conciliatory efforts with the invaders and his visits to the Governor. She was against any form of negotiation and although encouraged to drink wine and dress in European garb she refused, with violent chastisement of Bennelong for doing so.
When she wanted to give birth at the Governor’s House to maintain links with the land, and to avoid the hospital which she thought of as somewhere where people died, Phillip denied her the right, persuading Bennelong to take her to the hospital where she died shortly after giving birth.
Although he was said to have had a love-hate relationship with both the settlement and Phillip, he and his kinsman Yemmerrawanne travelled with him to England in 1792, and was presented to King George III on 24 May 1793. Yemmerrawanne died and was buried in Britain, but Bennelong arrived back in February 1795 obviously influenced by the British with a new sense of dress and behaviour, something he tried to impart on his family.
Bennelong, who had long been troubled by alcohol, died at Kissing Point on 3 January 1813.
Bennelong was captured with Colebee in November 1789 as part of Governor Arthur Phillip’s plan to learn the language and customs of the local people in an attempt to aid relations between the two groups. Bennelong, like Arabanoo, soon adopted European dress and ways, and was trained in the English language. He is known to have taught the Sydney Aboriginal language to George Bass. He gave the Aboriginal name Wolawaree to Phillip to locate him in a kinship relationship in order to enable communication of customs and relationship to the land. Bennelong served the colonisers by teaching them about Aboriginal customs and language.
Bennelong was present when Governor Arthur Phillip was speared at Manly in May 1790 and later that year asked the governor to build him a hut on what became known as later known as Bennelong Point, the site of today’s Sydney Opera House. Here he entertained the Governor a year later.
Interestingly Bennelong’s second wife, Barrangaroo was opposed to her husband’s conciliatory efforts with the invaders and his visits to the Governor. She was against any form of negotiation and although encouraged to drink wine and dress in European garb she refused, with violent chastisement of Bennelong for doing so.
When she wanted to give birth at the Governor’s House to maintain links with the land, and to avoid the hospital which she thought of as somewhere where people died, Phillip denied her the right, persuading Bennelong to take her to the hospital where she died shortly after giving birth.
Although he was said to have had a love-hate relationship with both the settlement and Phillip, he and his kinsman Yemmerrawanne travelled with him to England in 1792, and was presented to King George III on 24 May 1793. Yemmerrawanne died and was buried in Britain, but Bennelong arrived back in February 1795 obviously influenced by the British with a new sense of dress and behaviour, something he tried to impart on his family.
Bennelong, who had long been troubled by alcohol, died at Kissing Point on 3 January 1813.
- Look closely at the two images. What differences can you see?
- What changes do you think your person has experienced since the arrival of European settlers? Why do you think this?
- What do you think their motives were in relating to European authority the way he did?
- What feelings or responses do you have to the painting and print of your person?
Nanberry
Also know as Nanbree, Buckenau and Nanbaree, he was said to be intelligent, good-natured and hard working. He was adopted by Surgeon John White when he was about nine or ten. It must have been a terrifying time being a small aboriginal boy and Nanberry may have decided to turn to his protector (Surgeon White) and 'become English' as approximately 9/10 aboriginal people around Sydney Harbour died from disease, starvation or fled with the arrival of the First Fleet. As a result, Nanberry was probably saved from all of this and given the 'status' of Surgeon White's son and a 'home' to live.
Nanberry appeared to be a brilliant linguist (good with learning and using language) and quickly learnt the english language and customs. He was often used as the colony's official translator, an impressive job for such a young boy. At one stage gave the impression that he may have even stopped using his traditional language because he had used english for so long.
Nanberry seems to have decided to stay 'English' until Surgeon White left to return to England. At this time, without anyone to protect him, Namberry is thought to have decided to be initiated as a Cadigal warrior.
During his early adult life, Nanberry was said to have worked as a sailor on various ships travelling to various parts of the world. On one occasion he sailed to Norfolk Island as part of the crew of HMS Reliance as well as the HMS Brilliant which may have travelled to England or at least to Cape Town, South Africa. It is believed that he also travelled with Matthew Flinders on the HMS Investigator, in an attempt to circumnavigate around the Australian coast.
When he was not working as a sailor, it is believed that he returned to his clan and, taking part in clan battles and rituals. Despite Bennelong showing Nanberry contempt for leaving his culture and associating with the British, the two became good friends to the point that Nanberry asked to be buried next to Bennelong's grave when he too past away.
Nanberry died in 1821 from reasons as unknown and it is thought that he was still using the name White as well as Nanberry.
Nanberry is thought to have lived an independent, successful and happy life both as a Cadigal, in the bush away from the colony, and as a member of the English community. He was a man who seems to have kept his own heritage while successfully being part of colonial world too.
Adapted from Nanberry; Black Brother White by Jackie French.
Nanberry appeared to be a brilliant linguist (good with learning and using language) and quickly learnt the english language and customs. He was often used as the colony's official translator, an impressive job for such a young boy. At one stage gave the impression that he may have even stopped using his traditional language because he had used english for so long.
Nanberry seems to have decided to stay 'English' until Surgeon White left to return to England. At this time, without anyone to protect him, Namberry is thought to have decided to be initiated as a Cadigal warrior.
During his early adult life, Nanberry was said to have worked as a sailor on various ships travelling to various parts of the world. On one occasion he sailed to Norfolk Island as part of the crew of HMS Reliance as well as the HMS Brilliant which may have travelled to England or at least to Cape Town, South Africa. It is believed that he also travelled with Matthew Flinders on the HMS Investigator, in an attempt to circumnavigate around the Australian coast.
When he was not working as a sailor, it is believed that he returned to his clan and, taking part in clan battles and rituals. Despite Bennelong showing Nanberry contempt for leaving his culture and associating with the British, the two became good friends to the point that Nanberry asked to be buried next to Bennelong's grave when he too past away.
Nanberry died in 1821 from reasons as unknown and it is thought that he was still using the name White as well as Nanberry.
Nanberry is thought to have lived an independent, successful and happy life both as a Cadigal, in the bush away from the colony, and as a member of the English community. He was a man who seems to have kept his own heritage while successfully being part of colonial world too.
Adapted from Nanberry; Black Brother White by Jackie French.
- Look closely at the two images. What differences can you see?
- What changes do you think your person has experienced since the arrival of European settlers? Why do you think this?
- What do you think their motives were in relating to European authority the way he did?
- What feelings or responses do you have to the painting and print of your person?
Bungaree
Known for being able to go between both black and white societies, King Bungaree was from the Garigal clan at Broken Bay and moved to the Sydney area. He was a diplomat (politician), mediating between his own people and the government, and was an entertainer who impersonated the governors and other local figures. Bungaree was also an explorer, sailing with Matthew Flinders on his voyage around Australia in 1801 and with Phillip Parker King on the ‘Mermaid’ in 1818.
Although he often played the fool, Bungaree was an intelligent man who used his skills to get what he wanted. Governor Macquarie, whom Bungaree befriended, built huts for him and his family (twice) at Georges Head opposite the entrance of Port Jackson. Bungaree was helpful to settlers by tracking escaped convicts, but he was also influential within his own Aboriginal community taking part in corroborees and ritual battles He also looked after the welfare of his family and community by selling or bartering fish.
Bungaree was one of the most discussed Aboriginal people of the early 19th century in NSW, and was often sketched or painted. He was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed a chief by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and the first to be given a metal gorget bearing his name and title. He was often referred to as ‘King Bungaree’, ‘King of Port Jackson’, ‘King of the Blacks’, or ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’. A lithograph by William Henry Fernybrough at the State Library of NSW shows Bungaree cavorting in a soldier’s uniform.
A lithograph by Charles Rodius shows the brass breastplate worn by Bungaree. Beginning with Governor Macquarie in 1816, breastplates were issued annually to reward loyalty and foster co-operation between the newly-arrived Europeans and the Indigenous inhabitants of Sydney. Having false titles such as ‘King’, ‘Queen’ and ‘Prince’, they demonstrated British ignorance of Aboriginal customs and often alienated and ridiculed the wearer. The practice was discontinued by Governor Darling in 1830. The Powerhouse Museum has a small collection of these engraved Aboriginal breastplates.
Source: Sydney Barani
Although he often played the fool, Bungaree was an intelligent man who used his skills to get what he wanted. Governor Macquarie, whom Bungaree befriended, built huts for him and his family (twice) at Georges Head opposite the entrance of Port Jackson. Bungaree was helpful to settlers by tracking escaped convicts, but he was also influential within his own Aboriginal community taking part in corroborees and ritual battles He also looked after the welfare of his family and community by selling or bartering fish.
Bungaree was one of the most discussed Aboriginal people of the early 19th century in NSW, and was often sketched or painted. He was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed a chief by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and the first to be given a metal gorget bearing his name and title. He was often referred to as ‘King Bungaree’, ‘King of Port Jackson’, ‘King of the Blacks’, or ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’. A lithograph by William Henry Fernybrough at the State Library of NSW shows Bungaree cavorting in a soldier’s uniform.
A lithograph by Charles Rodius shows the brass breastplate worn by Bungaree. Beginning with Governor Macquarie in 1816, breastplates were issued annually to reward loyalty and foster co-operation between the newly-arrived Europeans and the Indigenous inhabitants of Sydney. Having false titles such as ‘King’, ‘Queen’ and ‘Prince’, they demonstrated British ignorance of Aboriginal customs and often alienated and ridiculed the wearer. The practice was discontinued by Governor Darling in 1830. The Powerhouse Museum has a small collection of these engraved Aboriginal breastplates.
Source: Sydney Barani
- Look closely at the two images. What differences can you see?
- What changes do you think your person has experienced since the arrival of European settlers? Why do you think this?
- What do you think their motives were in relating to European authority the way he did?
- What feelings or responses do you have to the painting and print of your person?