3-076-625 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Bungaree, Native Chief of New South Wales, 1830. Bungaree, possibly born at Patonga, was of the Garigal clan from Broken Bay, north of Sydney. He adopted the role of mediator between the English colonists and the Aboriginal people and also an interpreter when ships arrived in Sydney Harbour. His patron was Governor Macquarie who made Bungaree 'Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe' As part of Governor Macquarie's plan to "civilise" the aboriginal people, Bungaree, who had accompanied Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of Australia, was settled on land on Georges Head with other members of his tribe, the Camaraigal. Bungaree was put in charge of this venture in recognition of his assistance to the new settlers. The land became known as King Bungaree's Farm. He was the first individual known to have been called an 'Australian'. Photograph of a hand-coloured lithograph.