What was life like for Aboriginal leaders when the First Fleet arrived?
Illustration of Bennelong (artist’s impression — no known portraits exist).
Bennelong
Also known as Woollarawarre
Pronunciation
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Bennelong — BEN-uh-long
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Woollarawarre — WOO-luh-rah-wor-ee
Bennelong, also known as Woollarawarre, was an Aboriginal man of the Wangal clan of the Eora Nation who lived on Country around Sydney Harbour.
After the British arrived in 1788, he spent time with them and helped people from different cultures learn to understand one another.
Today, Bennelong is remembered as an important leader who worked to build understanding during a time of great change.
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This is a short excerpt from Benelong’s full classroom profile, available as part of the First Australians Teaching Pack — or try a free mini lesson below.
Quick facts
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Name: Woollarawarre Bennelong
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Also known as: Bennelong
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Role: Aboriginal man and community leader
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Clan / Nation: Wangal, Eora Nation
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Country / Place: Sydney Harbour region
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Time period: Late 1700s
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Known for: Acting as a cultural intermediary during the early years of British settlement
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Why they matter: Bennelong’s life helps us understand early contact between Aboriginal peoples and the British and the challenges of communication between cultures
Free mini lesson
Download a free mini lesson with sample historical profiles and a classroom comparison activity.
Compare Benelong’s experiences with other Aboriginal people at the time of the First Fleet.
Mini lesson includes:
✔ Colourful and engaging sample profiles for Aboriginal people
✔ Guided discussion prompts
✔ A classroom comparison activity
✔ Student drawing and writing tasks
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