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Finding Bennelong is a resource which explores the historical evidence and different perspectives about the life of Woollarawarre Bennelong.
This resource provides an overview of Bennelong's life delivered in five thematic sections.
This narrative is designed to be initially explored in order, as the story unfolds. Extensive research material, including quotes and images are also available.
Each part opens with a short narrative and continues with quotes from the period, research notes and a gallery of historical images.
Part 1
The identification of Bennelong's likely grave site in Putney in 2010 sparked media interest across Australia and the world. 200 years after his death we reflect on this extraordinary man who was among the first indigenous Australians to reside amongst the British settlers, visit England and live to tell the tale.
Part 2
Governor Arthur Phillip attempted to establish open communications with the Eora people, but the wary Eora avoided the settlement. In desperation, Phillip captured Arabanoo at Manly Cove. He was detained at Government House for questioning, but died of smallpox in May 1789.
Part 3
In December 1792 Governor Arthur Phillip returned to England accompanied by Bennelong and Yemmerawanne. Following a six-month voyage, they landed in Falmouth, England on 19 May 1793. Bennelong and Yemmerawanne stepped ashore into an alien world where they were cast as both colonial exhibits and Eora diplomats.
Travellers · Tour · Tragedy
Part 4
Bennelong had been abroad almost three years and learnt much about the alien country and culture of the English. But the journey had affected Bennelong and he seemed a different man. With his long-neglected brick hut now in ruins, Bennelong now resided at Government House.
Part 5
A single, damning obituary by the unsympathetic Sydney Gazette perhaps did more than anything else to cast Bennelong as an ungrateful, uncivilised outcast - a pariah who rejected British benevolence and the benefits of British civilisation.
Obituary · Battle · Tribe · Perspectives
Reference
53 short entries on the people of Port Jackson, the officers of the First Fleet and the words recorded from the language of the Sydney region, with a family chart drawn from the same sources.