Australian history truganini biography

Truganini, also known as Trugernanner, Trukanini, and Trucanini, was born around 1812 on Lunawanna-alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, near the southern tip of Tasmania.

And ever since her death in 1876, Truganini has been referred to as the last Aboriginal Tasmanian, or the last full-blooded Aboriginal Tasmanian but this description is also less than accurate. In March 1836 Truganini returned to mainland Tasmania with the other 'mission' Aborigines to search for the last Aboriginal family still at large.

From 1830-35 they were associated with Robinson's expeditions around Tasmania to 'bring in' other Aborigines before they were exterminated by British settlers. Since she was considered the last 'full-blood' Tasmanian, her body was exhumed in 1878 by the Royal Society of Tasmania, which was authorised by the government to take possession of her skeleton on condition that it was not exposed to public view but 'decently deposited in a secure resting place accessible by special permission to scientific men for scientific purposes.' These conditions were not observed.

The Tasmanian Times writes that by this point, the number of Aboriginal Tasmanians numbered in the low hundreds. It's estimated that during Tasmania's Black War, over 800 Palawa were killed, compared to roughly 200 colonists. And after a few years, those who were still alive were taken to Oyster Bay. And "Black Women and International Law" writes that in 1847, "the last no longer threatening survivors were allowed to return to the mainland island."

Truganini didn't stay on Flinders Island for long.

Indigenous Australia writes that Truganini's mother was murdered by sailors, her uncle was killed by soldiers, and her sister was abducted by whalers/sealers and subsequently died. "They acted as guides and as instructors in their languages and customs, which were recorded by Robinson in his journal, the best ethnographic record now available of traditional Tasmanian Aboriginal society."

Truganini and Woorraddy traveled with Robinson and with 14 other Palawa, including Pyterruner, Planobeena, Tunnerminnerwait, and Maulboyhenner, across Tasmania for six years.

When they returned in July 1837 and witnessed the escalating death and decay of the resettlement camp, Truganini reportedly said to her husband that "all the Aborigines would be dead before the houses being constructed for them were completed," according to Indigenous Australia.

Realizing the extent of George Augustus Robinson's broken promises, Truganini subsequently banded together with several other Palawa and together they started to push back against Robinson and the colonial policies.

She has been the subject of novels, plays, poetry, paintings, and a biography. There the Aborigines were expected to die out.

Over the next 25 years Truganini maintained strong visiting relationships with Fanny Cochrane Smith (q.v.), visited Bruny Island by catamaran, dived for shellfish, gathered shells and seaweed to make necklaces, and hunted in the hinterland, all of which probably helped to prolong her life.

In 1874 floods at Oyster Cover forced her to move to Hobart with her guardians, the Dandridge family.

However, the exact story of how and when she became an outlaw is still up for debate.

There are varied accounts as to when and where Truganini turned against George Augustus Robinson. He reportedly knowingly perjured himself and claimed that Truganini and the other women weren't responsible for their actions because they were being used as pawns by the men.

Out of the group, Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenneer were found guilty and publicly executed on January 20, 1842, To Melbourne records.

And according to The Koori History Website, Truganini is quoted as having once said "I knew it was no use my people trying to kill all the white people now, there were so many of them always coming in big boats." With this statement, Truganini demonstrates her awareness that the white colonizers had to be dealt with in another manner.

But as "Black Women and International Law" notes, "We may never know the precise reason why Truganini went along with Robinson in his efforts to gather up and resettle the Tasmanians."

Truganini and Woorraddy arrived with other Palawa at the Wybalenna settlement at Flinders Island in November 1835.

Without Truganini, Woorraddy, and the other Aboriginals, the Friendly Mission would've been a failure.