Australian Dictionary of Biography

Bennelong, 1798?

National Library of Australia, 9353128

Bennelong (c. 1764–1813), kidnapped Aboriginal man and intended envoy, was born in around 1864 on Dharug Country. A member of the Wangal clan, he was captured by Europeans in November 1789 and brought to their settlement at Sydney Cove by order of Governor Arthur Phillip, who hoped to learn from him more of the customs and language of the traditional owners. Bennelong took readily to life among the invaders, relished their food, acquired a taste for liquor, learned to speak English and became particularly attached to the governor, in whose house he lodged. In May he escaped, and no more was seen of him until September when he was among a large assembly of Aboriginal peoples at Manly, one of whom wounded Phillip with a spear. The attack seems to have been the result of a misunderstanding, and Bennelong took no part in it; indeed, he expressed concern and frequently appeared near Sydney Cove to inquire after the governor’s health. The incident was thus the means of re-establishing contact between them and, when assured that he would not be detained, Bennelong began to frequent the settlement with many of his compatriots, who made the Government House yard their headquarters. In 1791 a brick hut, 12 feet sq. (1.1 m²), was built for him on the eastern point of Sydney Cove, now called Bennelong Point.

In December 1792 Bennelong sailed with Phillip for England where he was presented to King George III. August 1794 found him on board the Reliance in Plymouth Sound, waiting to return to the colony with Governor John Hunter, but the ship did not sail until early in 1795, and on 25 January Hunter wrote that Bennelong’s health was precarious because of cold, homesickness and disappointment at the long delay, which had ‘much broken his spirit’. Bennelong reached Sydney in September, and thereafter references to him are scanty, though it would appear he found it difficult to find contentment or full acceptance among his Countrymen or the colonisers. In 1798 he was twice dangerously wounded in tribal battles. He died at Kissing Point on 3 January 1813.

Bennelong’s wife, Barangaroo, bore him a daughter named Dilboong who died in infancy. Later he took a second wife, Gooroobaroobooloo; however, she found another partner during his absence in England. His age, at the time of his capture, was estimated at twenty-five, and he was described as being ‘of good stature, stoutly made’, with a ‘bold, intrepid countenance’. Contemporary accounts reveal him as courageous, intelligent, vain, quick-tempered, ‘tender with children,’ and something of a comedian. Bennelong also had a son, Thomas Walker Coke, who was adopted by Rev. William Walker and died after a short illness aged about twenty.

♦♦  This article was revised on 11 July 2025