Aboriginal Historical Places Wybalenna, Flinders Island

Aboriginal Historical Places Wybalenna, Flinders Island lutruwita is the country of Tasmanian Aboriginal people and everyone has a responsibility to protect our heritage. Wybalenna Chapel Wybalenna is one of the most After trialling several sites to house Life at Wybalenna significant Aboriginal historical places the removed Aboriginal people in Tasmania. It is located on the west Commandant W J Darling settled In 1833, there were 57 Aboriginal coast of Flinders Island, the largest on the current site on Flinders Island people and 50 colonists at island in the eastern part of Bass in February 1833. It was named Wybalenna. From 1832 to 1835 Strait. ‘Wybalenna’. This was chosen as it about a dozen children were removed meant ‘Black man’s houses’ in the from Wybalenna to attend the In response to the escalating conflict language of the Ben Lomond people, Orphan School in Hobart. George between Aboriginal people and the largest Aboriginal nation at the site. Robinson became Commandant colonists during the 1820s, the of the settlement in October 1835 colonial authorities discussed options Continuing cultural and the Aboriginal people who to remove the Aboriginal people practices had travelled with him since 1830, from their lands. The activities of including Trukanini and Wurati, arrived ‘roving parties’ in the 1820s, George Different clans went into the bush at Wybalenna at this time. Several Robinson’s so-called ‘friendly mission’ for weeks at a time hunting kangaroo, Aboriginal people from New South in 1829 – 1831, and the Black Line in which they preferred more than the Wales and South Australia were also 1830, led to an agreement – or, some salted meat of the daily rations. In the at Wybalenna for a time. say, a treaty – between Aboriginal bush they would perform adapted clan leaders and Governor Arthur in ceremonies, songs and other cultural Schools at Wybalenna October 1831. The agreement led to practices using substitutes for the the progressive removal of Aboriginal valued red ochre that Robinson had Schooling at Wybalenna began in people from mainland Tasmania from banned from the settlement. Robinson 1834. The teachings included reading 1831 to 1835. declared new English names for and writing in English, with a select almost every Aboriginal person. group of Aboriginal children as the AboriginalDepartment Heritage of Tasmania DepartmentPrimary Industr of Primaryies, Park s,Industries, Water and Parks, Env ironmenWater andt Environment teachers – usually children of the and soldiers were removed. Doctor the remaining 14 men, 23 women clan leaders. As well as the weekday Jeanneret was appointed Commandant and 10 children were removed from schools a Saturday evening school in 1842. Children were again removed Wybalenna and taken to the former began in 1836. Male clan leaders to the Orphan School against their convict station at putalina / Oyster spoke in their first language to their parents’ wishes. In February 1846, Cove. own clan, then to all Aboriginal Walter Arthur and other Aboriginal During the 1970s and 1980s people in the ‘pidgin’ ‘language of the people petitioned Queen Victoria increased interest in the site, and settlement’. The school and chapel to prevent Jeanneret returning. In the cemetery in particular, led to were located in one of the huts spite of the petition, Jeanneret was archaeological surveys and the making belonging to the Ben Lomond clan reinstated. Conflict escalated and in of the film, ‘Black Man’s Houses’. In until July 1838 when the brick chapel 1847, Governor Denison ordered April 1999 the State Government was built. Sunday church services the closure of Wybalenna. By the handed the land title of Wybalenna were announced with the ringing time the settlement closed in 1847, to the Aboriginal Land Council of of a bell and raising the Union Jack. approximately 130 people had died Tasmania who are responsible for the Attendance was not compulsory at Wybalenna. On 18 October 1847, ongoing management of Wybalenna. and less than one third of Aboriginal people attended. First edition of the ‘Aboriginal or Flinders Island Chronicle. Copyright: Robinson Papers, Mitchell Library, Sydney. In September 1836, two young men aged about 15, Walter Arthur (Ben Lomond) and Thomas Bruny (an orphan), began writing the ‘Aboriginal or Flinders Island Chronicle’. In the beginning, Robinson supervised their writing very closely but gradually the writers gained more independence. This is the earliest known newspaper written by Aboriginal people in Australia. Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania Natural and Cultural Heritage Division After Wybalenna Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment GPO Box 44 Hobart TAS 7001 Following the departure of George Robinson to Port Philip (now Victoria) Telephone: 1300 487 045 email: [email protected] in February 1839, there was a dramatic www.aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Tasmania and its employees do not accept responsibility for the reduction in resources provided to accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user’s purpose, of the information and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, the Settlement. Most of the convicts loss or other consequence which may arise from relying on any information in this publication..

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