Free Settler or Felon? |
Henry Dangar was a proud landowner, magistrate and politician that had a significant influence on the events leading up to and aftermath of the Myall Creek Massacre as well as the trials that took place seeking justice for the 28 Aboriginals killed in the massacre. Despite the positive outcome of the trial for the Indigenous people involved with seven of the eleven squatters tried for the murders being sentenced to death by hanging, Henry Dangar continued in his unlawful ways issuing an unofficial bounty on and Indigenous man knowing that he was the only surviving Aboriginal who witness to the crime. In addition to Dangar's sadistic actions, the hangings lead to drastic consequences for Indigenous Australians with settlers and squatters taking a more tactical approach in their attempts to eliminate Aboriginals resorting to cowardly methods of poisoning waterholes and flour.
Biographies and historical records regarding Henry Dangar's life often neglect to delve into his involvement in the Myall Creek Massacre or negative actions towards Indigenous Australians. As a result, Dangar Island as well as many streets and parks across New South Wales have been named in Henry Dangar's honour. Despite the social and political reasoning behind hindering the truth to be a clear and accepted part of Australian history, it is essential, for the purpose of a true sense of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, that the true history is unveiled. The varying perspectives and shared history of Australia's land and people is exposed along the Reconciliation Trail revealing the true history behind the Myall Creek Massacre and Henry Dangar's life, his involvement in the massacre and influence on the land.
Biographies and historical records regarding Henry Dangar's life often neglect to delve into his involvement in the Myall Creek Massacre or negative actions towards Indigenous Australians. As a result, Dangar Island as well as many streets and parks across New South Wales have been named in Henry Dangar's honour. Despite the social and political reasoning behind hindering the truth to be a clear and accepted part of Australian history, it is essential, for the purpose of a true sense of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, that the true history is unveiled. The varying perspectives and shared history of Australia's land and people is exposed along the Reconciliation Trail revealing the true history behind the Myall Creek Massacre and Henry Dangar's life, his involvement in the massacre and influence on the land.
DATE
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EVENT
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IMPACT
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1796
1821
1821-1823
1823
1823-1826
1827
1828
1829
1833
1835
1838
1849
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Birth of Henry Dangar in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, UK
Arrived in Sydney abroad the Jessie Ship, April 2nd
Appointed Assistant Government Surveyor, July 1st
Focused activities around the mouth of the Hunter River as there were coal seams visible in the harbour mouth, known as Coal River at the time
Surveyed and planned out Newcastle, known as Kingstown at the time
Unlawfally surveyed land outside the official 'boundaries of location' and deemed the Liverpool Planes and other grasslands suitable for colonisation
Six month voyage back to London seeking preferential land acquisition
John Oxley offered support setting sail for London to personally present his case in the form of a direct appeal to the Colonial Secretary
Married Grace nee Sibly from Dangar's hometown St Neots, may 13th
First son William John born, March 16th
Dangar sails to Sydney accepting a job offer as Company Surveyor of an Australian Agriculture Company
Australian Agriculture Company no longer requires surveying services in Port Stephens
Dangar continued to operate closely with the business, however, partnership between Henry and his brother William was amicably dissolved
Myall Creek Massacre occurs (click 'The Trial' to hear more about Dangar's character throughout the trial)
Landowners including Dangar create an organisation called the 'Black Association' contributing funds for the defence of Flemming and the convicts
Dangar threatens Anderson and Hobbs not to testify against the convicts knowing of their guilt
Two trials take place seeking justice for the 28 Aborigines killed in the Myall Creek Massacre
Henry Dangar arranges for the killing of Davy, the only remaining eye witness to the murders
New squatting regulations passed and Dangar continues to use unrivalled knowledge of the Hunter Valley extending his pastoral interests acquiring rights to several grazing properties
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To be one of Australia's most honoured yet scrutinised land surveyors and owners
Dangar gains appreciation and power on Australian soil
European planning practices are imprinted on the natural Australian landscape
Governor Ralph Darling reports Dangar's unlawful activities to the Colonial Secretary Lord Bathurst in London
Dangar was believed to know the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains landscape and topography more intimately than any of his contemporaries
Dangar published a book called the 'Emigrants Guide' written whilst at sea basically from memory of the Australian landscape
Dangar moves from Port Stephens with wife and three sons to Neostfield near Shingleton in the Hunter Valley.
Out of dissolution, William took three blocks of land totalling 40,000 acres adjacent to his Turanville Station at Dartbrook, Kingdon Ponds. Henry retained 1000 acres of heavily improved land, Neotsfield at Shingleton along with 2,500 acres at Holkham
The landmark trial before Justice William Burton and a jury established that Aboriginal human and property rights could not be infringed with impunity. Aborigines are seen as equals under the Crown Law
Hobbs refused to comply with Dangar's unethical demands resulting in the loss of his job. Anderson had no job to be fired from and testifies against the convicts asking for protection from Dangar and the other landowners in return
Seven of the eleven men tried for the murders were brought to justice by hanging
Davy was never found
Henry Dangar, the 'insatiable land owner' controls over 300,000 acres by licence by 1850 including runs in New England, Liverpool Plains and bordering the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers
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References
Committee, M. C. (2015). The Massacre Countdown. Retrieved from The Myall Creek Massacre: http://www.myallcreekmassacre.com/Myall_Creek_Massacre/The_Massacre.html
Convictwally. (2015). The Myall Creek Massacre - Causes and Consequences of Colonial Conflict. Retrieved from Convict Creations: http://www.convictcreations.com/history/myallcreek.html
Google. (2015). Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpent's Legacy. Retrieved from Google Books: Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpent's Legacy
Willetts, J. (2015). Early Hunter Valley Settlers. Retrieved from Free Settler or Felon?: http://www.jenwilletts.com/henry_dangar.htm
Convictwally. (2015). The Myall Creek Massacre - Causes and Consequences of Colonial Conflict. Retrieved from Convict Creations: http://www.convictcreations.com/history/myallcreek.html
Google. (2015). Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpent's Legacy. Retrieved from Google Books: Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpent's Legacy
Willetts, J. (2015). Early Hunter Valley Settlers. Retrieved from Free Settler or Felon?: http://www.jenwilletts.com/henry_dangar.htm