KOORI • MURRI • GOORI AND PALAWA STORYLINES

FRONTIER WARS 1825–1870

Frontier wars continue.

Despite effective local resistance, the invasioncontinues. The Europeans have weapons whichenable them to gain control of resources. Kooricommunities are shattered by epidemics ofsmallpox, measles and other foreign diseases.

Koori resistance sometimes leads to massacresby Europeans – tens or hundreds of Kooris arekilled for the death of one or two Europeans.

It has become obvious in south-eastern Australiathat the invaders are here to stay. Kooriscontinue to adapt to ways of living which ensurethe survival of their communities. Rural work isavailable to some Kooris. Others remain in smallcommunities or are forced, or choose, to moveto missions which provide food and safety.

In Victoria and eastern NSW, bush food becomesscarcer as European land-use destroys theenvironment which has supported Kooris sincetheir creation.

In western NSW some Koori groups away fromthe invasion are still able to continue practisingtheir laws and customs relatively undisturbed.

Act for ‘Protection andManagement of AboriginalNatives’ in Victoria. ‘Protection’means government control.1869

1824–35Windradyne remains a significantfigure in both Koori and Britishsociety.

Windradyne dies of wounds after a fight,and is given a traditional burial.

1835

WINDRADYNE LIFE STORY FANNY COCHRANE SMITH LIFE STORY

1834Fanny is born at Wybalenna, FlindersIsland, daughter of Tanganuturre.At this time Flinders Island is a‘concentration camp’ where Palawapeople are forcibly kept and attemptsare made to destroy their culture.

1839By the time Fanny is five, half the

people on Flinders Island have diedfrom disease and heartbreak.

1842Fanny is removed from her family and taken withfive other Koori girls to the Orphan School inHobart. She is later sent as a domestic servant toRobert Clark*. The five children who remain in theOrphan School will die there.

1846The people of Wybalenna petition Queen Victoria about their conditions.This is the first petition from an Aboriginal group to a monarch. It isnever sent.Fanny is chained up and beaten by Robert Clark*. In revenge she triesto burn down his house. Her treatment is included in an investigation.

1854Fanny is forced into marriage with WilliamSmith*, an ex-convict and sawyer.

1857Fanny is granted 100 acres of land nearNicholl’s Rivulet near Hobart.

1858The first of Fanny’s 11 children is born.

Note: * means non-Aboriginal

Violence increases against thePalawa as British seek greater

control of Koori countries.Late 1820s

Wellington Valley Missionset up to convert Kooris

into Christians.1829

Wuywuthuring people (Melbournearea) sign treaty with JohnBatman*. They think they areleasing their land. This treaty isdisallowed by government.1835

Kamilaroi people kill sheep andattack homesteads, as their naturalfood supplies are being destroyed.As a result shepherds and squattersare killed, 200–300 Kamilaroi aremassacred at Waterloo Creek, NSW,to stop further resistance.1837

Gunditjmara people’sresistance in western

Victoria.1840s

The gold rushes in Victoria bringlarge numbers of non-Aboriginal

people into Koori countries.1850s

Kulin people of southernVictoria apply for Coranderrk

Reserve near Healesville.1859

On their ‘exploration’ Burke* and Wills*unknowingly follow the Dreaming track of

the Bronze Wing Pigeon.1860–1