Barangaroo
Encyclopedia
Barangaroo was the second wife of Bennelong
, who was interlocutor between the Aboriginal people and the early British colonists in New South Wales. Barangaroo was a member of the Cammeray
clan. While Bennelong spent considerable time in the British settlement in Sydney, Barangaroo maintained her way of life with her people.
She had two children prior to being Bennelong's wife, both of whom died. She had a baby girl Dilboong while she was Bennelong's wife. The baby only survived for a few months.
Barangaroo died in 1791 and was buried in Governor Phillip's
garden, in the area of the present day Circular Quay.
in his first-hand account called A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson, describes several encounters with Barangaroo.
At the first meeting between the colonists and Barangaroo in October 1790 he describes how Bennelong presents her wearing a petticoat
. "But this was the prudery of the wilderness, which her husband (Bennelong) joined us to ridicule, and we soon laughed her out of it. The petticoat was dropped with hesitation, and Barangaroo stood 'armed cap-a-pee in nakedness'." Tench said at the request of Bennelong "we combed and cut her hair, and she seemed pleased with the operation." She would not taste any of the wine that she was offered, even though she was invited to do so by Bennelong. Tench said that if he had only met her on this occasion he would say "that amidst a horde of roaming savages in the desert wastes of NSW, might be found as much feminine innocence, softness, and modesty (allowing for inevitable difference of education), as the most finished system could bestow".
He also describes an occasion where a convict was flogged in front of an audience of Aboriginal people, for stealing from them. Barangaroo was angry, and menaced the man performing the flogging with a stick.
His final mention of Barangaroo in the text is to describe how the Aboriginal women were treated with what he described as 'savage barbarity', and that Bennelong would strike Barangaroo with blows and kicks and 'every other mark of brutality'. He also says that Barangaroo was not pitied as a result of this, as she was 'a scold and a vixen'.
's Darling Harbour was officially named Barangaroo in her honour. The site was formerly a dockland precinct used for shipping, and has been earmarked for redevelopment into office spaces, residences and parks. It was the site of the Opening Mass and several other large gatherings for World Youth Day 2008
.
The SS Benelon and SS Barangaroo were two ferries operating across Sydney Harbour prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
.
Bennelong
Woollarawarre Bennelong was a senior man of the Eora, an Aboriginal people of the Port Jackson area, at the time of the first British settlement in Australia, in 1788...
, who was interlocutor between the Aboriginal people and the early British colonists in New South Wales. Barangaroo was a member of the Cammeray
Cammeraygal
The Cammeraygal are an Indigenous Australian people that inhabited the Lower North Shore area of the present-day North Sydney Council in Sydney, Australia....
clan. While Bennelong spent considerable time in the British settlement in Sydney, Barangaroo maintained her way of life with her people.
She had two children prior to being Bennelong's wife, both of whom died. She had a baby girl Dilboong while she was Bennelong's wife. The baby only survived for a few months.
Barangaroo died in 1791 and was buried in Governor Phillip's
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
garden, in the area of the present day Circular Quay.
The accounts of Watkin Tench
First Fleet marine Watkin TenchWatkin Tench
Lieutenant-General Watkin Tench was a British Marine officer who is best known for publishing two books describing his experiences in the First Fleet, which established the first settlement in Australia in 1788...
in his first-hand account called A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson, describes several encounters with Barangaroo.
At the first meeting between the colonists and Barangaroo in October 1790 he describes how Bennelong presents her wearing a petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
. "But this was the prudery of the wilderness, which her husband (Bennelong) joined us to ridicule, and we soon laughed her out of it. The petticoat was dropped with hesitation, and Barangaroo stood 'armed cap-a-pee in nakedness'." Tench said at the request of Bennelong "we combed and cut her hair, and she seemed pleased with the operation." She would not taste any of the wine that she was offered, even though she was invited to do so by Bennelong. Tench said that if he had only met her on this occasion he would say "that amidst a horde of roaming savages in the desert wastes of NSW, might be found as much feminine innocence, softness, and modesty (allowing for inevitable difference of education), as the most finished system could bestow".
He also describes an occasion where a convict was flogged in front of an audience of Aboriginal people, for stealing from them. Barangaroo was angry, and menaced the man performing the flogging with a stick.
His final mention of Barangaroo in the text is to describe how the Aboriginal women were treated with what he described as 'savage barbarity', and that Bennelong would strike Barangaroo with blows and kicks and 'every other mark of brutality'. He also says that Barangaroo was not pitied as a result of this, as she was 'a scold and a vixen'.
Legacy
In October 2006, a 22-hectare site on the eastern part of SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's Darling Harbour was officially named Barangaroo in her honour. The site was formerly a dockland precinct used for shipping, and has been earmarked for redevelopment into office spaces, residences and parks. It was the site of the Opening Mass and several other large gatherings for World Youth Day 2008
World Youth Day 2008
The 23rd World Youth Day 2008 was a Catholic youth festival that started on 15 July and continued until 20 July 2008 in Sydney, Australia. It was the first World Youth Day held in Australia and the first World Youth Day in Oceania. This meeting was decided by Pope Benedict XVI, during the Cologne...
.
The SS Benelon and SS Barangaroo were two ferries operating across Sydney Harbour prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
.
External links
- Barangaroo back in Sydney - Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2006, Report on the naming of East Darling Harbour site.
- White Australia embraces Aboriginal culture (when it suits) - CrikeyCrikeyCrikey is an independent Australian electronic magazine comprising an open access website and an email newsletter available to subscribers. Well known in Australian political, media and business circles, Crikey was described by former Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham as the "most popular...
, 10 October 2006. Commentary on naming of East Darling Habour site.