04) Contact and Colonisation in AustraliaThe Early Years of the Colony

Lesson Objective

• To investigate the early years of British settlement and to examine the available sources that inform our conclusions about this time in Australia’s history.

Task

In the following slides, you will be presented with several slides for your examination. Make a list of the perspectives offered by each of the sources. Which side of the story does it support, the black armband view or the three cheers view of Australian history.

The Problem

Are accounts of Australia’s past overly negative distortions or exaggerations of what happened?

Are accounts of Australia’s past truthful accounts that accurately depict the history of Aboriginal and European relations?

The Problem

• The black armband view of history in Australia.

• European invasion, conquest, domination, genocide.

The Problem

• The three cheers view of history in Australia.

• European settlement was a humane attempt at establishing civilisation. Damage caused was through unintended consequences such as disease.

What are the Available Sources?

– What would have survived from this time?

– Why would it have survived?

– Which types of evidence will be more useful?

– Which types of evidence will be more trustworthy?

The Founding of Australia. By Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N. Sydney Cove, Jan. 26th 1788

SOURCE A

A painting by the convict artist Thomas Watling, titled A native going to fish with a torch and flambeaux, while his wife and children are cooking fish for their supper, c.1788-95

SOURCE B

British Orders

Governor Phillip was under British orders to establish good relations with the indigenous people, so he commanded that `the natives should not be offended or molested on any account'.

“[the rule] strictly forbids, under penalty of the severest punishment, any soldier or other person, not expressly ordered out for that purpose, ever to fire on any native except in his own defence; or to molest him in any shape, or to bring away any spears, or other articles which they may find belonging to those people."

SOURCE C

New Land

As the months passed, it became clear that the British colonists needed to learn how to live off the land and the sea.

Phillip decided to take Aboriginal prisoners, teach them English and learn from their knowledge and skills.

SOURCE D

New Skills

“We saw several of the natives on the high land. They were gathering a kind of fruit which they soaked in water & sucked. On our return to the Cove where we landed, we found a native in a tree gathering a fruit of the size of a small pine, & of a beautiful pale yellow. He got it by fixing a four pronged spear over the stalk & twisting them off. It had a sweet taste.”

Excerpt from the Diary of Lieutenant BradleyFriday, 30th May 1788

SOURCE E

SOURCE F

Learning from the Natives

Europeans had often used kidnapping as a means of establishing contact with native people. Arabanoo was the first victim, captured at Manly. He quickly learnt to speak English but died within the year from the smallpox epidemic.

Bennelong and Colby

Bennelong and Colby, of the Gadigal people, were kidnapped six months later. The British lured them with offers of fish, grabbed them and carried them off despite the screams of distress from their relatives. Both men escaped from the British within days.

Portrait of Bennelong, whose name was given to the point on the south side of Port Jackson. The engraving is by J. Neagle, and it was created around 1798.

SOURCE G

Good or Bad?

“The officer who was in the boat called at the Lieutenant-Governor's farm as he returned & was there informed that a convict had killed one of the natives some days before by cutting him across the belly with his knife. I have no doubt but this native having been murdered occasioned their seeking revenge & which proved fatal to those who were not concerned. They have attacked our people when they have met them unarmed, but that did not happen until they had been very ill treated by us in the lower part of the Harbour . . .”

Excerpt from the Diary of Lieutenant BradleyFriday, 30th May 1788

SOURCE G

Good or Bad?

“Clothing for the natives, if sent out, will, I daresay, be very acceptable to them when they come amongst us. I should recommend long frocks and jackets only, which will equally serve both men and women.

In addition to the frocks and jackets for the natives, good house carpenters' axes, hats, hooks, and lines will be the most beneficial, as well as the most acceptable, to the natives . . .”

Arthur Phillip, Letter to Secretary Nepean Sydney Cove, Port Jackson,

July the 5th, 1788

SOURCE H

Good or Bad?

“The very heavy rains we have had for some days has put a stop to all labour, & the natives find it very difficult to support themselves in this season, as few fish are caught. I hope after the ships have sailed to be able to persuade some of them to live near us and every possible means shall be used to reconcile them to us, & to render their situation more comfortable. At present I think it is inferior to that of the beasts of the field, yet they seem intelligent & merit a better character.”

Arthur Phillip, Letter to Lord SydneySydney Cove, Port Jackson,

July the 5th, 1788

SOURCE H