Barangaroo

Barangaroo was the wife of the famous Australian Aborigine Bennelong. Barangaroo was a determined and independent Cadigal woman who, history books suggest, disliked the invading Europeans and was totally opposed to Bennelong's "conciliatory efforts with the invaders and Governor Phillip".

She was against any form of negotiation and although encouraged to drink wine and dress in European garb she refused, being violently chastised by Bennelong for doing so." She was also known to have chastised and hit a soldier with a stick when he was flogging a convict.

When Barangaroo wanted to give birth at the Governor's House to maintain links with the land, and to avoid the hospital which she thought of as a place of death, Governor Phillip denied her the right, persuading Bennelong to take her to the hospital where she died shortly after giving birth", which vindicated her fear about the hospital.

In his first-hand account called "A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson", First Fleet marine Watkin Tench described how Bennelong presented Barangaroo in October 1790 to the whites wearing a petticoat."But this was the prudery of the wilderness, which her husband joined us to ridicule, and we soon laughed her out of it," wrote Tench."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. Wine she would not taste, but turned from it with disgust, though heartily invited to drink by the example and persuasion of Baneelon (Bennelong)". Tench was surprised to find "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".

In October 2006, a 22-hectare site on the eastern part of Sydney's Darling Harbour was officially named Barangaroo in her honour. (See: Barangaroo, New South Wales) It was formerly 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

External links

* [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/t/tench/watkin/settlement/chapter9.html] - The University of Adelaide Library [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/ Electronic Texts Collection] , "A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson" by Watkin Tench
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/barangaroo-back-in-sydney/2006/10/18/1160850971716.html Barangaroo back in Sydney] - Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2006, Report on the naming of East Darling Harbour site.
* [http://crikey.com.au/Politics/20061019-Keating-jumps-on-Sartors-Barangaroo-.html White Australia embraces Aboriginal culture (when it suits)] - Crikey, 10 October 2006. Commentary on naming of East Darling Habour site.