Topics: Sites: North Coastal

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1802 - 1803 - view

On his return, Bungaree brings the Broken Bay clan to settle in Port Jackson. He makes camp at Kirribilli.

1815 - view

Biddy Lewis later to settle at Marramarra Creek on Broken Bay, also lives from time to time at Bungaree’s Georges Head farm.

1818 - view

On Bungaree’s return from the voyage, Alexander Berry cares for Bungaree when beaten up by a drunken man, and writes “I found him a man decidedly of considerable natural talent, faithful and trust worthy”. On his return Bungaree finds that his family group has left ‘Bungaree’s farm’ at Georges Head for the Northern Beaches. In this way they continue their long tradition of moving about their country according to food availability, changing seasons, and for meetings and ceremonies.

1820 - view

Joseph Lycett ex convict artist, paints “a family of aborigines taking shelter during a storm”, evidence that a flourishing community of Koories are following a traditional life – though probably still moving about their country – on the Northern Beaches.

1821 - view

Bungaree is living near Newcastle and his clan put on a “Kauraberie” for Macquarie during his farewell tour of the colony. The Governor persuades Bungaree and his family group to move back to Georges Head.

1826 - view

A punitive expedition is mounted by the British against Koories near Wyong.

1828 - view

The first Census of the native population is taken in the Brisbane Water by Magistrate Bean. He reports five family groups of natives (he refers to them as tribes). These family groups are centred at Broken Bay (15 people), Erina (10), Narara (10), Tuggerah Beach (15) and Wyong (15). The groups are: The Mial or Broken Bay; Narara; Erina; Tuggerah Beach; Wyong. He estimates a total of 65 persons. He notes evidence of recent Koori settlement at Kincumber, Patonga, Somersby, Ourimbah, Wyong River, Jilliby Creek valleys, Tuggerah Beach, Munmorah-Norah Head, Mangrove, Kulnurra.

1829 - view

William Govett surveys the Northern Beaches and writes of the Koories living a traditional life style along the coast. He describes, in the Saturday Magazine, large numbers of Aboriginal people at Cowan Creek, Broken Bay and Barrenjoey. Govett draws Garigal people fishing at Bilgola Beach and North Narrabeen.

1830s - view

Bungaree’s clan is still living from time to time at Georges Head.

1830s - view

Until the 1900s Koories travel by foot from Burns Bay, Narrabeen and Manly via the Field of Mars camp to Cowan Creek camp.

1833 - view

Mrs Felton Mathew, on a visit to Marramarra Creek with her surveyor husband on 3 rd August writes “then appeared a miserable hut of rough logs covered with bark, from whence issued a number of dogs barking … and then the inhabitants; two old men and a woman with child in her arms … These dreary solitudes might serve for the abode of a misanthrope so utterly are they secluded from all approach and so entirely destitute of all comfort” .

1833 - view

Despite the negative report about the Lewis family, the photograph of them on Marramarra Creek (probably taken at the mouth of Marramarra Creek at the home of Thomas Lewis some years later), reveals a well clothed and happy-looking large family.

1836 - view

Bowen (Toura Bungaree) and his wife Maria, and daughters Jonza, Nan, Theda (Jane), and son Mark, move to Pittwater, near Barrenjoey. Bowen has perhaps decided to lead his clan away from the destruction and poverty of Sydney life back to a semi traditional existence.

1836 - view

Bowen returned to find his country much altered with traditional coastal fishing grounds blocked off to them and borders from farms and roads.

1837 - view

The ( Sydney Gazette , 2 Feb 1837) reported that Bridget Riley an Aboriginal native arrayed in a robe of spotless white, which contrasted strongly with her skin, was charged with having suffered from the influence of ‘bool’: she stated that she sat down [lived] at Broken Bay, to which place she was ordered to betake herself with all speed, and not be again seen drunk in the streets of Sydney.

1840s - view

Robert Pymble the elder related that members of a Koori clan periodically travel from Lane Cove River at a point near Burns Bay on the way to Cowan, ’by way of what is now known Cowan Road. They always break the journey and camp on Wright’s Hill, near the present reservoir at Pymble‘…  He continued that the hill beyond the present situation is called by those campers ‘Turramurra’ or ‘Turraburra’ the word meant ‘big hill’.

1843 - view

Birth of James Ashby, son of Charlotte Ashby. Marriage of Charlotte to James Ashby. They receive a land grant at Dora Creek, (Wyee). After Charlotte’s husband dies her children are taken away and put into the Benevolent Society Institution and her land is confiscated. Charlotte is incarcerated in a psychiatric institution. The family recall that once the police found out they were Aboriginal, they moved them on, saying “She’s only a blackfella anyway”.

1846 - view

The government of NSW forms a Select Committee to look into conditions of Aborigines. Rev William West Simpson, the Anglican Minister at the Lower Hawkesbury (Wiseman’s Ferry) sends the following note:   In Marramarra Creek I have found a family of half castes, the children of John Lewis or Ferdinand, a white man employed in the lime burning trade …

1846 - view

Birth of twins John and James to Elizabeth and Israel Rose at Marramarra Creek.

1847 - view

Threlkeld had a mission station near Lake Macquarie. He stated that the Aborigines had strayed from God’s path and as a result were doomed.