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These groups were hunter-gatherer groups which lived off of harvesting the land. These groups had
developed in isolation from the rest of Australia and did not know about anything beyond their land area.
Think about how this isolation may impact on how they see white people.
First realized they were not alone
The indigenous groups first realized they were not along on the morning of April 29th, 1770 when they saw
the ships come in between the headlands.
Captain Cook originally named Botany Bay Stingray Harbour but changed it later to Botany Bay due to the
variety of plants and flowers discovered on the land.
Think about what these indigenous people must be thinking and feeling, what realistic ideas could have
crossed their minds? Remember their only transport on the seas were canoes.
To the Indigenous people they appeared ghost like because of the colour of their skin.
It was unusual to see people wearing clothing, running back and forth and the ships, pulling down the sails
and shouting at one another.
The ships anchored on the south side, the side of the Gweagal tribe.
Contact between cook and the tribes
Captain cook and his colleagues manned a small boat on to land and this made the
Gweagals very unhappy.
The elder and another man from the tribe approached the Europeans making it clear
they were not wanted there by throwing spears at them. The Europeans fired back by
shooting muskets above their heads but one hit the elder and the Gweagal men
retreated to huts near the shore.
They returned with reinforcements to throw more spears at the intruders but then
retreated further inland.
What do you think about this comment made by Europeans? Is this a good way of looking at
another persons culture? Should we judge or accept other peoples views and ways of living? How
do you think this has shaped the way they treated Indigenous cultural groups after the initial
discovery?
Cook returns to England
12th June 1771
Cooks second voyage
13th July 1772, leaves England
17th January 1773, crosses Antarctic circle
21st December 1773, crosses Antarctic circle for a second time
26th January 1774, crosses Antarctic circle for a third time
Upon coming up to Port Jackson, the Europeans could see the smoke rising
from the bush which showed there was a local Indigenous group (Cadigal)
living near by. The Indigenous people came out and watched the Europeans
come to shore thinking that they would only stay a short while as Cook had.
They watched as they raised a cloth on a pole (the flag) and saluted it.
As convicts began chopping down trees again in this new place, the local
Indigenous group became worried that they were not leaving soon and they
ceased contact with the Europeans returning to their own camps.
In 1788, Phillip became frustrated and was ordered to establish communication with the
Indigenous people. On the last day of 1788 the Europeans noticed a group of Cameraygal men
on the shore and made friendly gestures at them. When close enough they grabbed two of the
men but one fought free and escaped.
What do you think it did to Arabanoo and the other Indigenous people
who saw him, to be locked up in chains in a cage like at the zoo?
More kidnapping
In November, 1789 Bennelong and Colbee were kidnapped
and taken to the Governors house. Colbee escaped but
Bennelong stayed and adapted to European ways of living
without the difficulty faced by Arabanoo.
Bennelong did escape 6 months later but found it difficult to
go back to living his traditional life and returned to Phillip.
The impact of colonization led to a change in the health and well-being of Aboriginal people in
much the same way as to any group who have been forcibly removed from their land and
traditional lifestyle. These impacts remain evident in urban Koori society and culture today.
Bibliography
Essay: First Contact Written by Anita Heiss, can be accessed at
http://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/first-contact/
Strangers In the Land by Joseph Harding (in the classroom on the window)