Pages 9 - 77 (1600kb) - Eurobodalla Shire Council

EUROBODALLA ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDY
South Coast NSW
was made. Both Campbell and Walker, another aborigine, were called
“Mr.” Campbell and “Mr.” Walker by the tribe, after the gentlemen for
whom they were named. Evidently “Mister” was regarded as a sort of
Christian name.
They always regarded Mr. Hawdon’s word as law, and he was called
upon to settle many a dispute. One, who had done him a good turn, he
made king of Bergalia, and this fellow assumed for ever afterwards a
royal arrogance which was very amusing. A stranger black at one time
speared several sheep, and Mr. Hawdon gave orders that he was to be
brought to him. As no more sheep were speared, he forgot all about the
matter. Not so the blacks. Some weeks later he was surprised to see a
crowd of them coming towards him, carrying something, and jabbering
loudly. He found that the object they had brought was the stranger’s
head. They had tracked him to Captain Mackellar’s estate at
Braidwood and told him to come “one time, two time, three time,” but
as he did not seem inclined to come, they said they could not wait, so
brought his head. 67
The man referred to in the above quote as Benson is almost certainly Wynoo William
Benson. Wynoo William Benson applied for a reservation of land for his use on the
shores of Tuross Lake near Turlinjah in 1880, in his application he made reference to
having worked for John Hawdon of Kyla Park for many years. The Mr. Campbell
referred may be the Campbell for whose use a reserve was formed at Moruya Heads
in 1875. 68
In 1845 in answer to questions from the Select Committee inquiring into the
‘Condition of the Aborigines’ Francis Flanagan provided the following information
on labour in the wider Broulee area:
Those who choose to work can obtain plenty of food and clothing, and
they seldom have of necessity to depend upon fishing or hunting for
subsistence… Both males and females are employed by the settlers in
gathering the maize and potatoe (sic) crop, and some of them in
reaping. They have commonly been remunerated in provisions, clothes,
tea, sugar, tobacco, &c., but many of them now insist upon being paid
in money. They are always employed for stripping bark… They will
only work when the fancy seizes them, and always go off without
warning. 69
Two years later Commissioner Lambie stated:
… no material change has taken place in their condition during the past
year. In their disposition and conduct, they continue quite harmless,
and live on friendly terms with the settlers. A few of the Blacks
67 Madeline Buck, ‘Old Colony Days: John Hawdon’s Letters: III’, Sydney Morning Herald, date
unknown, newspaper clipping from Moruya & District Historical Society.
68 See ‘Reserve’ section of this report for more detailed discussion.
69 Response to Circular Letter from Francis Flanagan, Esq., J.P., Broulee, Report from the Select
Committee on the Condition of the Aborigines with Appendix, Minutes of Evidence and Replies to a
Circular Letter, Government Printing Office, Sydney, 1845, p.38.
Goulding Heritage Consulting Pty Ltd
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