This is a sad book about the last of the Tasmanian (Lutruwita) Aboriginals (Palawa) and is divided into three sections.
The work of George Augustus Robinson and his ‘friendly Mission’ was aimed at gathering together all the Palawa in Lutruwita and putting an end to what was known as the ‘Black War’.
Robinson saw himself as a man of great humanity, who wished to bring peace to the Palawa as well as civilising them through Christianity. He was aided in his endeavours by other Palawa, including Trukanini/Truganini, Pevay and Timme who initially trusted Robinson. Robinson, along with his guides, travelled in Country which had not been settled, especially the NW and Western parts of Lutruwita, Country which was unhospitable. He relied on his guides to not only find other Palawa, but to provide food, and on several occasions save him from drowning or even being speared. But as the book points out, Robinson was more motivated by financial gains – 5 pounds for each adult and 2 pounds for every child he brought in, along with the promise of being the administrator on Flinders Island, where the Palawa were to be interred.
Life at Wybalenna on Flinders Island ‘was no more than giving poor savages a safe place to die, making their last days comfortable’ or, in Robinsons own words, ‘it is the will of providence and better they die here where they are kindly treated’. ‘Kindly treated’ was as far from reality as the Palawa were from their lands; housed in shelters which lacked warmth, given rations which were of very poor quality and abused and badgered. Yet despite these conditions many tried to keep alive their customs, in particular hunting, which Robertson reluctantly allowed but deemed necessary to feed his failing community. Eventually, even Robertson could see no future for the Palawa or himself and was promoted as Protector of Aborigines in Port Phillip.
The last part of the book deals with a number of Palawa who also went to Port Phillip, including Trukanini/Truganini, Pevay and Timme, who realised that they finally had a chance of freedom from white man’s laws and a return to the land. However, what happened was that they stole from various settlers and their fate was sealed when they shot two white men. Eventually captured, Pevay and Timme stood trial for murder and in a travesty of justice they were sentenced to hang.
This is a well-researched book, and the author has used many sources, including Robertson’s own writings and the trial documents, to tell a story which encapsulates the history of Indigenous peoples in Australia. ‘When an alien regime is forcibly imposed on a free people, the end is always tragic.’
Reviewed by Anthony Llewellyn-Evans
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tasmanian Robert Cox is a former copywriter, journalist, newspaper subeditor, and magazine editor with a special interest in the history of his home state. His publications include eight other books and numerous articles, essays, short stories, and reviews, plus an unobtrusive poem or two.
He has also done voice work in radio and television and written documentary film scripts. Broken Spear: The untold story of Black Tom Birch, the man who sparked Australia’s bloodiest war, was longlisted for the 2024 Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History.
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