Journals of G.A. Robinson, May to August 1841

Journals of G.A. Robinson, May to August 1841

by Gary Presland

Book 11 of Records of the Victorian Archaeological Survey --

1980

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About
In the mid 1800's John Batman arrived to establish a new Penal colony for the King of England and he named this new the Colony of Port Phillip. The town was named Melbourne and Melbourne today is the Capital of Victoria. The government of the time were hearing of the terrible treatment and murder of Aboriginal people so the government appointed G.A.Robinson as an Aboriginal Protector instructing him to put into place protective measures to protect Aboriginal people from the squatters and pastoralist. Augustus Robinson done nothing to protect the people he was appointed to protect instead he engaged Melbourne aboriginal people to travel with him around the state to assist him in engaging Aboriginal people to record their names,tibe names, customs and their accounts of violence from the squaters and pastoralists. Today however his journals are the mosts valuable account of Victoria's pastoralist and squatters, blood thirsty violence against Aboriginal people. Robinson also provided a invaluable account of Aboriginal customs, language and tribal boundaries. He records the Chief-Wunget of the Yiyar Tribe Baum Baum and his clan he also records being witness to Baum Baum becoming overseer of three clan groups being Kilkara-Gunditj, Eurite-Gunditj and Cart-Gunditj and many more other Clans and Wungets-Chiefs. In fact his journals are that valuable they have been used in past and successful Native Title Claims for Aboriginal people of Victoria. They are held in every University in Victoria and are as well know to Aboriginal people as J.K.Rowlings Harry Potter books. So he done nothing back then but his journals have become the window to the past that Aboriginal people can use and look through.

Discussion questions for Journals of G.A. Robinson, May to August 1841

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  1. 1

    How does the historical role of George Augustus Robinson as an "Aboriginal Protector" contrast with his actual actions and legacy as documented in the journals?

  2. 2

    In what ways do Robinson's journals serve as a complex paradox—failing to protect Indigenous peoples at the time, yet preserving vital cultural knowledge and evidence of frontier violence for future generations?

  3. 3

    Discuss the significance of these journals being successfully utilized in modern Native Title Claims; how does historical documentation transform into a tool for contemporary justice and land rights?

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