Published: 26 July 2010

On Monday 26 July 2010, Cr Andrew Petrie, Mayor of Woollahra officially named the terraced garden on the corner of Rose Bay Avenue and New South Head Road as Bungaree Reserve.

Following a suggestion from the Woollahra History and Heritage Society, Woollahra Council has named the reserve in memory of Bungaree, the well known Aborigine who lived in Sydney until his death in 1830 and was buried in Rose Bay.

Bungaree is one of the best known and discussed Aborigines of the early 19th Century. His voyages with Matthew Flinders, including the circumnavigation of Australia in HMS Investigator, and with Phillip Parker King’s exploration of north-west Australia, gave him great standing and led to him being acknowledged as the leader of township Aborigines.

According to historians, Bungaree was witty, intelligent and a diplomat who used his skills to get what he wanted and was able to straddle both black and white societies. He would dress in cast-off European military clothes and his flamboyant costume, good nature and elaborate manners set him apart from other Aborigines living on the fringes of the British settlement.

He was also the first Aborigine to be appointed a ‘chief’ by Governor Macquarie, mediating between the government and his own colony. He was often referred to as ‘King of Port Jackson’ or ‘Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe’.

One of the 2010 themes of Local Government Week is celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Major General Lachlan Macquarie’s appointment as Governor of New South Wales. Cr Andrew Petrie states that with Local Government Week occuring the first week of August, the timing is appropriate to also honour Bungaree.

“With 2010 marking the 200th anniversary of Governor Macquarie, it is also a fitting time to pay tribute to Bungaree, a contemporary of Governor Macquarie whom the Governor respected and liked.” said Cr Petrie.

Bungaree died in 1830 and was buried in Rose Bay next to one of his wives, probably Matora. The Sydney Gazette of Saturday 27 November 1830, ran a large report of his death part of which read “…he will be interred at Rose Bay, beside the remains of his late Queen, this day”.

A commemorative plaque and new seating has been placed in the reserve for local residents to enjoy.

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