Pemulwuy Pemulwoy, Pemulwy, Pemulwei

Rasputin meets Ned Kelly

In the history of social activism, second party advocacy has always been fraught with danger.  Second party advocacy involves a group campaigning for policies aimed at affecting a first party. The obvious problem with such campaigns is that the second party is interfering in someone else's business, may not have sufficient knowledge to make informed judgements, or may have moral and financial agendas that are not conducive with those of the first party. In Australia, second party advocacy has shaped the manner that Australian Aboriginal history has been presented. As a consequence, the Aboriginal story is typically one of failure, dispossession, drug abuse, alcoholism, and general weakness. This version of history has allowed the white second party to attain moral status for showing "sympathy" for Aboriginal suffering, and funding to alleviate it.

The unfortunate side effect of such history lessons is that they have created the perception that the Aborigines were a weak race that lacked the courage or skill to stand up for themselves. Furthermore, in the absence of stories showing any positive achievement in the face of adversity, they have evoked sympathy for Aborigines, but very little respect. The lack of recognition for Pemulwuy is typical of the problem. Pemulwuy was a resistance leader in the vein of Ned Kelly. In his time he inspired his people, and won the respect of his enemies. Today, for those who know of his story, he provides some respect in the white cultivated history of failure.   

Pemulwuy first came to public attention in 1790 when he killed Governor Phillip's game shooter, a Convict named McIntyre. The attack was said to be unprovoked and so infuriated Phillip that he dispatched a military expedition to bring back Pemulwuy and "any six Bidjigal or their heads."

Following many unsuccessful expeditions to apprehend him, Pemulwuy began retaliating against the British for their breaches of Bidijigal law. In particular, he led a number of raids against farms, stealing crops and clothes. Such resources were desperately required by the starving colony yet the Bidjigal had no need for either. For this reason, some historians have argued this was a calculated war strategy devised by Pemulwuy to weaken his enemy.

During 1794, the Bidjigal focused their attacks on an area between Parrammatta and Prospect Hill.  Some months later, Pemulwuy fought Black Caesar, a huge Convict/Bushranger of African descent. With his commanding physical strength, Caesar managed to crack Pemulwuy's skull. Although seriously wounded, Pemulwuy recovered.

In 1797, Pemulwuy led a sustained attack on the Toongabbie outpost, capturing supplies and ammunition. The warriors then continued on to Parramatta itself. Here on open ground near the Parramatta River he led a pitched battle against the English. Pemulwuy was quickly identified and subsequently felled after being hit by seven bullets. The Bidigal suffered great losses and were forced to retreat. Pemulwuy was left lying in a pool of blood and thought to be dead. Amazingly, he was only severely wounded. In a display of mercy and admiration, the soldiers took him to the hospital at Parramatta . He lapsed in and out of consciousness for many days and his death was thought to be a certainty. However, Pemulwuy recovered and several weeks later, he escaped into the darkness - his leg-irons still in place. According to the Bidijal people, his impossible escape was achieved by turning himself into a bird.

Pemulwuy's ability to recover from his wounds gave him a Rasputin like reputation of being invincible. The local Aborigines believed that bullets couldn't harm him, nor could chains hold him. Even the colonists started believing the myths.  John Washington Price, who arrived in Sydney in 1800, said:

"He has now lodged in him, in shot, sluggs and bullets, about eight or ten ounces of lead." In the end though, Pemulwuy proved that he was mortal. In 1802 he was shot and decapitated. His head was preserved in alcohol and sent to England as a gift for Joseph Banks. Accompanying the head was a letter from Governor King stating that "although a terrible pest to the colony, he was a brave and independent character...."

Peter Baxter - Pemulwuy

Pemulwuy lay by the side of the road
His body was silently numb
A soldier raised his sabre high
Did what no man should have done
In a silence conspired their lives would backfire
Their shadows would follow and haunt them
What fool would expect a proud man to forget
The land he fought to defend

Clever man, clever man that Pemulwuy

Pemulwuy died with blood in his eyes
In a land now others call home
They brought their ways, they brought their laws
They brought their disease and their rum
With furrowed brows pushed broken ploughs
Crippled the earth with their toil
One man stood firm, one man stood tall
Now his blood soaks deep in that soil

Clever man, clever man that Pemulwuy

The Crow he watched with a wounded stare
And a solemn chant he begun
His death wish flew on a wind that blew
From the west, across and beyond
Centuries on and still now this song
Echoes through the valleys and mountains
To the deserts away. On the great Ocean spray
In the sunshine and the cold southern rain

Clever man, clever man that Pemulwuy

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