The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney gives evidence for the reasons for decline in Aboriginal numbers, referring to “the aggressive mode of taking possession of their country which necessarily involves a vast loss of life to the native population … I have heard myself a man, educated and a large proprietor of sheep and cattle, maintain that there was no more harm in shooting a native, than in shooting a wild dog … I fear also, though I am ashamed to say it, that I have reason to believe that poison has been, in many instances, used.” (Gayle and Brookman 1975)
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the “last Aboriginal of Sydney had died, a beggar who slept outside the gates of the Legislative Assembly”. In reality there were many hundreds of survivors of the invasion.
Some white Sydney-siders take up collections to provide help to a “dying race”.