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In contrast to Bennelong, Pemulwoy was not a friend of the English. He was the first resistance leader. From the Bidgegal tribe, Pemulwoy conducted guerrilla warfare against settlers from 1788 to 1802, setting fire to crops, attacking farms and driving off stock.
In 1797, he led the Georges River and Parramatta tribes in an attack on the settlement at Toongabbie.
Pemulwoy was blamed for every Aboriginal “outrage” against the settlers. Large rewards were offered for his capture. The Governor decreed that the “utmost efforts” were to be made to capture him dead or alive. When he was finally shot by two English settlers, his head was cut off and sent to Joseph Banks in England.
For more, read: Pemulwoy
Adapted from:
Parbury, N. (1986). Survival: a history of Aboriginal life in New South Wales. P. 48
Sydney: Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales).
This material has been produced by UNITEC Institute of Technology
under contract to the Ministry of Education.
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