Chapter 2

History of Australia

2.2 Event II: Clash of British and Australian Cultures

In 1788, the British sent a fleet of ships to establish a penal colony in Sydney Australia. The man
chosen to lead this expedition was Arthur Philip, who made a number of decisions that would
have a lasting impact on the indigenous Australians.

2.2.1. Concessions to convicts

The first few years of the colony were extremely difficult. There was a shortage of food which
led to starvation, and many of the convicts were sick. In a letter he wrote to Lord Sydney in
1788, Philip said that the colony was 'in a most distressed state' but that he was willing to remain
in charge as long as was required.

However, in 1789, things became so bad that Captain Phillip considered abandoning the colony
and sailing back to England. Eventually, though, he decided to stay and try to make the colony
work.

Another controversial decision made by Arthur Philip was to allow convicts to own land. This
was something that was not allowed in other British colonies. However, Philip believed that it
would help to encourage the convicts to make a success of the new colony. This decision
resulted in the displacement of the indigenous people who were already living in the area.

The convicts were put to work building houses and roads and farming the land. They were also
used as a source of cheap labor for businesses. This led to the development of a class system in
which the free settlers were at the top, followed by the convicts, and then the Indigenous
Australians.

2.2.2 Interactions with the First Nations Peoples

Phillip is regarded as an enlightened leader for his timeliness in recognising the importance of
peaceful coexistence with Indigenous Australians.

One of the most important things Arthur Phillip had to decide was how to deal with the
Indigenous Australians who were living in Sydney at the time. There were around 1500 of them,
belonging to around 30 different tribes. They had their own language and culture and were
completely unfamiliar with the British.
2.2.3 Early interactions

The First Nations peoples were understandably wary of these strange new people who had
arrived in their land.

However, Phillip was keen to establish friendly relations and so he sent out parties of men to
explore the area and try to learn more about the local people. He also arranged for some of the
Indigenous people to be brought down to Sydney Cove so that they could be observed more
closely.

Captain Phillip decided that the best way to deal with them was to try and make peace. He made
it clear that he did not want to fight them and that he wanted to live in harmony. To help achieve
this, he established a policy of mutual respect, which meant that the British would not interfere in
their way of life and the Indigenous Australians would not interfere with the British.

2.2.4. Bennelong

One of Phillip's main goals was to find a way to communicate with the Indigenous people. He
eventually succeeded in doing this with the help of a young Indigenous man named Bennelong.

Bennelong had been captured by the British and taken back to Sydney Cove, but he managed to
escape and return to his tribe. However, he soon became curious about these strange new people
and so he decided to go back to Sydney Cove of his own accord.

Bennelong learned English and was eventually given a job as an interpreter. He helped to
establish friendly relations between the British colonists and the local Indigenous people. He also
acted as a go-between, helping to negotiate trade deals between the two groups. Bennelong
became a close friend of Captain Phillip and was even given the honor of eating dinner with him
on several occasions.

2.2.5. What happened to Bennelong?

Unfortunately, Bennelong's life was not always easy. He often found himself in the middle of
conflict between the British and the Indigenous Australians. In 1792, he was taken hostage by
some of his fellow tribe members after a dispute over land.
He was eventually released but he decided to stay in Sydney Cove for fear of being killed if he
returned home. Bennelong sailed to England with Arthur Philip, who had to leave Australia due
to poor health. However, Bennelong became homesick and returned to Australia in 1795.

Bennelong eventually settled on the land that is now known as Bennelong Point, where he built a
hut and grew crops. He continued to act as an intermediary between the British and the
Indigenous people and was even given his own land by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

Bennelong is remembered as one of the most important figures in the early history of Australia.
He was one of the first Indigenous people to learn English and he played a crucial role in helping
to establish friendly relations between the British colonists and the Indigenous Australians.

2.3 Event III: How the Australian First Nations Resisted

Colonisation.

As European colonists began expanding across Australia, they came into constant conflict with
the First Nations people. There were various approaches to try and deal clash of cultures,
including deals, friendships, corruption and theft. However, some First Nations warriors chose to
fight back to defend their traditional lands.

2.3.1. Pemulwuy (1750 - 1802)

Pemulwuy was an important person in the Bidgigal community near Sydney. He was well-
respected and might have been considered a clever man in his tribe.

When British settlers arrived in 1790, Pemulwuy threw a spear at one of the Governor's
assistants, John McIntyre, who unfortunately died.

The Governor, Phillip, sent soldiers to seek revenge, but they couldn't find Pemulwuy. From
1792 onwards, Pemulwuy led his First Nations warriors in a secret fight against the European
settlers. They attacked settlers, burned buildings, and stole food.

In March 1797, Pemulwuy led his warriors in the Battle of Parramatta against the settlement. He
was shot many times, some of his warriors died, but he managed to escape.

The British governor, King, offered money to anyone who could find and kill Pemulwuy. He
also made it legal for settlers to kill any First Nations people near Parramatta. In 1802,
Pemulwuy was caught and killed by Henry Hacking. His head was sent to England for study
after that.
2.3.2. Musquito (1780 - 1825)
Musquito was a leader who resisted the settlers in the Sydney area. He was born around 1780 at
Port Jackson. In 1805, he took part in secret attacks on colonial settlements at Hawkesbury.
Because of this, he got arrested and put in prison at Parramatta.

As a punishment for damaging property, he was sent to Norfolk Island. He stayed there as a
prisoner for eight years and then got sent even farther away to Launceston in Tasmania.

In 1823-4, using his experience in secret warfare, Musquito led a group with weapons against
local farms. They stole things and sadly, killed some settlers along the east coast of Tasmania. In
one attack in 1824, Musquito got hurt and captured again. He was accused of murder and was
hanged at Hobart in 1825.

2.3.3. Windradyne (1800 - 1829)

Another important First Nations warrior in the Sydney region was Windradyne, belonging to the
Wiradjuri people. He became famous during the Bathurst War in 1824. In December 1823, two
European stockmen were killed, and Windradyne was believed to be responsible. The governor
sent the military to capture him, and they succeeded, imprisoning him for a month.

After his release, Windradyne continued attacking colonists because First Nations women and
children were reportedly killed by stockmen in the Wyagdon Ranges. This violence led to the
declaration of martial law in Bathurst by the governor in 1824. A reward was offered for
Windradyne's capture, but he was never caught. During a meeting in Parramatta, Windradyne
approached the Governor and received an official pardon.

After the pardon, Windradyne stopped fighting against the Europeans and later died following a
battle with another First Nations group.

2.3.4. Yagan (1795 - 1833)

Yagan was a leader who resisted the settlers in Perth. He was born around 1795 as part of the
Noongar nation, just south of Perth. There was trouble when a young First Nations boy got shot
at Archibald Butler's place, and a Noongar man sought revenge by spearing one of Butler's
servants.

In 1832, Yagan got arrested and charged with murder. He spent six weeks on Carnac Island as
part of his punishment but managed to escape with two other prisoners. They stole a boat and
made it back to the mainland. Even though authorities tried to catch him again, Yagan stayed
free, and people heard stories about how good he was at avoiding capture.

In 1833, William and James Keates ambushed and killed Yagan. Just like what happened with
Pemulwuy, Yagan's head was sent to England.

2.3.5. Jandamarra (1873 - 1897)

Jandamarra was from Western Australia, part of the Bunuba nation near the Kimberley, born
around 1870. He initially worked with Europeans as a station hand before returning to his
Bunuba people. Known for his excellent horse riding skills, Jandamarra gained a good
reputation.

Later on, he got into trouble for stealing sheep and was arrested. But he struck a deal with the
local police – they'd drop the charges if he took care of their horses. Jandamarra then worked as a
tracker for the police, helping them catch other First Nations people, which was tough for him.

The Bunuba elders told Jandamarra he had to choose between sticking with his people or joining
European society. To show his loyalty, Jandamarra killed Constable Richardson, his partner, and
freed imprisoned First Nations people.

For three years, Jandamarra led his people in resisting settlers, with a significant battle at
Windjina Gorge where he was wounded. In 1897, during an attack on his former police station,
Jandamarra was shot and killed

QUESTIONS
1. **Question:** Who led the British expedition to establish a penal colony in Sydney in
1788?
**Answer:** Arthur Philip.

2. **Question:** What shortage did the colony face in its early years, leading to starvation
and sickness?
**Answer:** Shortage of food.

3. **Question:** Why did Arthur Philip allow convicts to own land in the new colony?
**Answer:** To encourage the convicts to make a success of the new colony.

4. **Question:** What policy did Captain Phillip establish to deal with the Indigenous
Australians?
 **Answer:** Policy of mutual respect.

5. **Question:** Who played a crucial role in communication and trade negotiations

between the British and Indigenous Australians?
**Answer:** Bennelong.

6. **Question:** What decision did Captain Phillip make in 1789 when the colony faced
extreme difficulties?
**Answer:** He decided to stay and try to make the colony work.

7. **Question:** What significant event occurred in the Battle of Parramatta involving

Pemulwuy?
**Answer:** Pemulwuy led an army of 100 local warriors against the settlement at Parramatta.

8. **Question:** How did Musquito contribute to the conflict against colonial settlements?
**Answer:** He led an armed group in guerilla attacks on colonial settlements.

9. **Question:** What strategy did Windradyne employ as a guerilla warrior leader

during the Bathurst War?
**Answer:** Hit-and-run raiding techniques against settlers.

10. **Question:** What was Yagan's fate after being arrested and charged with murder in
1832?
**Answer:** He served six weeks of his sentence on Carnac Island before escaping.

11. **Question:** How did Bennelong contribute to friendly relations between British
colonists and Indigenous Australians?
**Answer:** He served as an interpreter and helped negotiate trade deals.

12. **Question:** What happened to Pemulwuy in the Battle of Parramatta in 1797?

**Answer:** Pemulwuy was shot around seven times, captured, and later executed by British
authorities.

13. **Question:** What led to Jandamarra's decision to resist the settlers and lead tribal
warriors?
**Answer:** The elders of the Bunuba gave him a choice between his people and being
absorbed into European society.

14. **Question:** Why did Yagan kill one of Archibald Butler's servants in 1832?
**Answer:** In vengeance for a young First Nations boy being shot at Butler's homestead.
15. **Question:** How did Windradyne's actions change after receiving an official pardon
in 1824?
**Answer:** He no longer participated in clashes against Europeans and eventually died
following a battle with another First Nations group.