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Woollarawarre Bennelong was a Wangal man who became a cultural mediator for the British after he was kidnapped with Colbee on 25 November 1789.
Bennelong was a "very merry fellow", bold, passionate and intelligent. He freely instructed the British about Eora culture, language and clan structures, and acquired English language and customs very readily.
Bennelong persuaded Governor Phillip to build a brick hut for him at Tubowghule which became known as Bennelong Point. He also dined with Phillip frequently, called him "beanga" (father) and exchanged names with him.
According to Wiradjuri historian Anita Heiss, this establishment of kinship with Phillip was necessary in order to enable communication of customs and relationship to the land. (Anita Heiss, 2002)
Bennelong made full use of the Governor's eagerness to have a mediator between the two cultures, however. Behind the scenes he supported Pemulwuy to resist the British and probably orchestrated Wileemarin's spearing of Phillip.
Using Phillip's gifts, Bennelong was able to gain influence among neighbouring clans such as the Cammeraigal and Bidjigal. Initially he was considered less "distinguished" among the Eora than Colbee, but by February 1791 he was helping to extract teeth of young men in an initiation ceremony in Cammeraigal territory, an important role.
In 1792 Bennelong voluntarily accompanied Phillip when he returned to England. When he sailed back to Australia in 1795, he had acquired an eighteenth century English obsession with dress and table manners.
This did not impress his people, however. His lack of influence among them - particularly women - made him increasingly depressed, drunk, aggressive and vengeful. He died at Kissing Point (now known as Ryde) in Cammeraigal territory on January 3, 1813. (K.Smith, 2001)