Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment

Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment
1846 painting of Wybalenna by John Skinner Prout
Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment is located in Tasmania
Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment
LocationFlinders Island
Coordinates40°01′00″S 147°57′44″E / 40.01667°S 147.96222°E / -40.01667; 147.96222
StatusNon-operational
Population~180 exiled people
(~130 deaths)
Opened1833
Closed1847
Managed byBritish colonial government of Van Diemen's Land
DirectorGeorge Augustus Robinson
Ens William James Darling
Dr James Allen
Henry Nickolls
Capt Malcolm Laing Smith
Dr Peter Fisher
Dr Henry Jeanneret
Dr Joseph Milligan
Notable prisoners
Truganini, Tongerlongeter, Montpelliatta, William Lanne, Mathinna, Luggenemenener, Mannalargenna, Woretemoeteryenner, Towterer

The Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment was an internment facility built at Flinders Island by the colonial British government of Van Diemen's Land to accommodate forcibly exiled Aboriginal Tasmanians (Palawa). It was opened in 1833 and ceased operations in 1847. During that period around 180 Palawa were situated at Wybalenna with approximately 130 people dying at the establishment. Around another 25 died while being transported to the facility. The main commandant of Wybalenna was George Augustus Robinson who played a principal role in the system of capturing and sending Palawa to the facility. Famous people incarcerated at Wybalenna included Truganini, Mannalargenna and William Lanne, amongst others. Due to the many deaths of Indigenous people at Wybalenna, the alienation of the inmates from their homeland and the forcible repression of cultural practices, the Wybalenna establishment is regarded as an example of the implementation of genocidal policies against Indigenous Australians.[1][2][3][page needed]

  1. ^ Robinson, George Augustus; Plomley, NJB (2008). Friendly Mission, the Tasmanian journals and papers of George Augustus Robinson. Hobart: Quintus. ISBN 9780977557226.
  2. ^ Ryan, Lyndall (2012). Tasmanian Aborigines. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781742370682.
  3. ^ Kiernan, Ben (2007). Blood and Soil. Carlton: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522854770.