Topics: People: North Coastal

An old Koori man is Grewin living on Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury (Mullet Island). Some ex-convicts salt boiling on the island, are attacked and their clothing taken by Koories. Two other friendly Koories escort the men back to Sydney unharmed. (Swancott 1967, p. 14)

Governor King sends Bungaree on the ship Resource to help with negotiations with Awabakal people at Hunter River near Newcastle where the penal settlement has been reopened. Bungaree also is asked by King to escort six Koories from Hunter River back home. Bungaree stays on to assist Lieutenant Menzies, in charge of the Kings Town (Newcastle). Returning by foot to Sydney, runaway convicts attack Bungaree’s clansmen as they pass through the Central Coast area and kill Bungaree’s father. Bungaree becomes an Elder of his clan.

Musquito, an Aboriginal Guringai warrior is arrested for attacks on farms on the Hawkesbury River. He is imprisoned and sent to Norfolk Island and later to Tasmania in 1813. Musquito’s first hand knowledge of bushranging tactics is used by authorities to help round up outlaws in Tasmania. He becomes a leader of resistance and organises large scale guerilla attacks against colonists. He is sentenced to death for murder in 1825 in Hobart gaol. His final words are said to have been I“This not good for black fulla. Only good for white fulla [speaking about being hanged]. Him buddy (bloody) used to it by now.”

When a ship appeared off the Heads, Bungaree, Cora Goseberry or Matora, or other members of his extended family, often row out to meet it. Matora asks the captain for a tot of rum while Bungaree, dressed in his naval uniform points to his farm and the land northwards, and proclaims, ‘These are my people. This is my land’.

The Sydney Gazette on 4 February reports that “on this occasion, sixteen of the natives, with wives and families, were assembled, and his Excellency the Governor, in consideration of the general wish expressed by them, appointed Boogaree (who had been long known as one of the most friendly of this race, and well acquainted with our language), to be their chief, at the same time presenting him with a badge distinguishing his quality as ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’”. ( Sydney Gazette , 4 February 1815)

Macquarie appoints Bidgee Bidgee “Chief of the Kissing Point Tribe” at Ryde.

Catherine becomes known as the ‘Queen of Scotland Island’, and also becomes a famous midwife.

The artist draws or records other names of the people in Bungaree’s clan. Boin (Bowen) is Bungaree’s son. His mother is Toura. Bowen’s wife is Maria or Mary, her father is Jonza and her mother is Nan or Naney. Bowen’s daughters are Theda, Theela Bowen and his son Mark.

Mikhailov writes of Bungaree’s family “Sometimes they ornament their head with bird’s bones or fish bones, or the tail of a dog or kangaroo teeth; and sometimes they plait their hair, smearing it with gummy sap of a plant so that it resembles rope ends. They stain the face and body with red earth … When a youth reaches man’s estate [ie manhood], two of his front teeth are knocked out. As for the girls, in early youth they have two joints of the little finger of the left hand cut off”.