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.