The "unlikely" part? Despite moments of genuine affection (Bennelong saved Phillip’s life during a whale-hunting expedition gone wrong in 1790, and Phillip wept when Bennelong left for England in 1792), the relationship collapsed under the weight of colonialism. Bennelong died a broken, alcoholic exile in 1813, rejected by both British and Eora societies. No photograph survives. No journal from his own hand. Only the stories told by others.
The book by Kate Fullagar explores the complex, deeply personal relationship between Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, and Bennelong, a senior Wangal man.
Two men who genuinely liked each other but were trapped by their roles. the unlikely story of bennelong and phillip pdf
Bennelong died asking for a glass of rum. He was buried in the orchard of James Squire (a brewer) at Kissing Point, Sydney. No stone marks his grave. But at Bennelong Point, millions of tourists stream into the Opera House every year – a place named for a man the British tried to “civilize” and then forgot.
Phillip, conversely, was no genocidal tyrant. He forbade the killing of Aboriginals (though he could not control convicts or soldiers). He genuinely sought a negotiated co-existence. But his worldview was that of an 18th-century imperialist: he believed British law and civilization were superior.
When Bennelong sailed for England, he likely thought he was forming an alliance between kings. Instead, he was paraded as a curiosity. He returned to find his wife had taken another husband, his people displaced, and his role as intermediary irrelevant. Governor Phillip had left for England permanently in 1793, suffering from illness. They never saw each other again. The "unlikely" part
If you are looking to develop a or media project based on this story, here are four unique angles: 🏛️ The "First Ambassador" Narrative Focus on Bennelong’s trip to London in 1792. The Hook: He wasn't just a "specimen"; he was a diplomat.
At first glance, the premise seems absurd. In January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip landed the First Fleet at Port Jackson (Sydney Cove) with 11 ships, over 1,000 settlers, and a mandate to establish a British penal colony. The local Aboriginal population, the Eora, had lived sustainably on that land for at least 60,000 years.
Moreover, Bennelong's interactions with Phillip helped to challenge the prevailing attitudes of the British towards the Aboriginal people. Phillip began to see the Aboriginal people as individuals with their own culture and traditions, rather than simply as "savages" or " natives." This shift in perspective was significant, as it laid the groundwork for future generations of Australians to build on. No photograph survives