takara milaythina lutruwita nika paywuta
...walked this country forever

The Black War — Black Line

The Black War in Van Diemen’s Land (1824-31) was the most intense frontier conflict in Australia’s history. By 1830 the war had reached its peak with settlers demanding that something be done about the Aboriginal problem. In response, Lieutenant-Governor Arthur ordered some two thousand soldiers and able-bodied settlers to form what became known as the ‘Black Line’, a human chain that stretched across the settled districts of the island, costing more than half the annual colony budget. The line moved south in a pincer movement over many weeks, attempting to capture and remove Aboriginal people. The plan failed given the bush skills of the Aborigines to move freely through the line. However, Lieutenant-Governor Arthur saw it as a success by removing the Aborigines from the settled district.

"Within months of the British occupation there were already massacres occurring on hunting grounds and elsewhere. Countless more people died from European diseases to which they had no immunity."

Wybalenna
Black man’s houses

George Augustus Robinson began his missions (1830-1833) to round up the Aborigines and bring an end to the Black War. During this period, he negotiated a treaty on behalf of Lieutenant-Governor Arthur and Aboriginal leaders. This treaty led to their removal from their homeland.

Wybalenna, one of the most significant Aboriginal places located on Flinders Island, was established as a settlement in 1833 to accommodate the Aborigines taken from their homeland.

Wybalenna was so isolated that the Aborigines taken there had no connection to this place. By moving them to this foreign place, Robinson tried to destroy their ongoing relationship with their ancestors. In their defiance of being ‘Christianised’ and ‘civilised’, and given English names they continued to practice their ceremonies, songs and cultural traditions.

To survive, they hunted kangaroo and caught mutton birds, to supplement their European diet. Due to the psychological effects on their health, the physical conditions were such that they could not escape poor nutrition and introduced diseases.

When Wybalenna closed in 1847, approximately 130 people had died. The remaining 47 survivors were sent to Oyster Cove, a former convict station to see out their remaining days.