Lithograph of Bungaree, drawn on stone by C. Pye [after Rodius]

Although this portrait of Bungaree was drawn on stone by C. Pye, it is a reverse copy of a lithograph by Charles Rodius, which was published in the Sydney Gazette on 7 October 1834. Pye's lithograph was published by J.B. Ashley, 23 Hanway Street, Oxford Street and printed by Maguire & Co in 1834.

Description beneath portrait reads: "Bungaree. This singular countenance is an authentic likeness of an original drawing of the Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe, New South Wales, well known at Sydney".

Background: In 1815, Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted land at Georges Height, Mosman to sixteen Aboriginal families to settle and cultivate. These aboriginal settlers were not members of the local Borogegal clan, they were from the Broken Bay area and Macquarie appointed one of them, Bungaree, to be their leader. Bungaree has been described as witty, intelligent and something of a diplomat and is recognised as an example of significant collaboration between Aboriginals and Europeans. Macquarie and Bungaree were to become firm friends and at the ceremony to mark the establishment of the farm Macquarie presented Bungaree with a metal gorget (breast plate) inscribed “Chief of Broken Bay Tribe.”

The exact boundaries of the farm are uncertain. However, in 1815 the Sydney Gazette described it as being situated on “the peninsula of Georges Head, being nearly surrounded on all sides by the sea.” In Thomas Florance’s Survey of Port Jackson (1828) this showed the farm’s location as being in the Middle Head area. In 2004, the Trust engaged historian, Rosemary Kerr, to undertake further documentary research to try and determine a more precise location of Bungaree’s Farm. Documentary searches to date have not revealed the location of the farm. The plaque, in this image, is located between Middle Head Road and Georges Heights Oval.

Image courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales (IE3253213).

Image Call Number: SSV* / Sp Coll / Rodius / 16