Batman's Treaty facts for kids
Batman's Treaty was an agreement made in 1835 between John Batman, a businessman and coloniser from Australia, and a group of Wurundjeri elders. This agreement was about buying a large area of land around Port Phillip, where the city of Melbourne is now located.
This document is very important because it was the first and only time that European settlers officially tried to make a deal with the Aboriginal people for their land. However, the agreement was later cancelled on August 26, 1835, by Richard Bourke, who was the Governor of New South Wales at the time.
Contents
How the Treaty Was Made
In 1827, John Batman and Joseph Gellibrand wanted to get land in Port Phillip. This area was then part of the colony of New South Wales. They offered to bring many sheep and cattle. But their request was turned down because of existing rules.
By 1835, Batman decided to sail to Port Phillip to explore the area himself. Gellibrand, who was a lawyer, prepared a draft agreement for Batman to use. This agreement was for buying land and included paying a yearly tribute.
On May 10, 1835, Batman sailed from Launceston on his ship, the Rebecca. His group included the ship's master, a mate, three sailors, seven Aboriginal men from Parramatta, and three other white men.
They finally arrived at Port Phillip on May 29, 1835. They explored the area for about a week. They visited Corio Bay (near Geelong) and later went up the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers.
Meeting the Wurundjeri People
Batman's group met with Aboriginal people several times. They exchanged gifts like blankets, handkerchiefs, sugar, and apples for woven baskets and spears.
On June 6, Batman met with eight elders of the Wurundjeri people. These included ngurungaetas Bebejan and Billibellary. The Wurundjeri were the traditional owners of the lands around the Yarra River.
For about 600,000 acres of land, which includes most of modern-day Melbourne, Batman offered many items. These included:
- 40 pairs of blankets
- 42 tomahawks (small axes)
- 130 knives
- 62 pairs of scissors
- 40 looking glasses (mirrors)
- 250 handkerchiefs
- 18 shirts
- 4 flannel jackets
- 4 suits of clothes
- 150 pounds of flour
Where the Treaty Was Signed
The meeting where the treaty was signed happened by a "lovely stream of water." Historians believe this was likely Merri Creek in what is now Northcote. Other possible locations have been suggested, like the Plenty River or Darebin Creek.
Some people think the details in Batman's diary might have been changed. This could have been done to make it seem like a larger area of land was included in the treaty.
A historian named Harcourt believes the signing took place at "West Bend" on Merri Creek. This idea is supported by old stories, descriptions from others who were there, and later paintings of the event. In 2004, a concrete block was found in Northcote. It might have been the base for a plaque marking the spot.
The Yan Yean Reservoir was named after an Aboriginal leader, Yan Yan, who signed Batman's Treaty.
Batman's Return to Tasmania
On June 8, Batman wrote in his journal that he found a good spot for a village about six miles up a large river. This sentence later became famous as the "founding charter" of Melbourne. He even called the land "Batmania."
Batman left eight men at Indented Head with supplies. He told them to build a hut and start a garden. Then, he and the Rebecca sailed back to Launceston, arriving on June 14.
In Launceston, Batman showed John Helder Wedge the areas he had explored. Wedge then created the first map of Melbourne, published in 1836. It showed the spot Batman chose for the "village" and how the land was divided among his group.
A few days after returning, Batman wrote to the Governor of Tasmania, George Arthur. He told the Governor about the treaty and his group's plans to bring 20,000 sheep to the land. Governor Arthur was not happy with Batman's actions. He wrote to the Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke, about it.
Wedge left Launceston on August 7, 1835, to set up a settlement on the new lands. He eventually met a group sent by John Pascoe Fawkner on the Yarra River. Wedge told Fawkner about the treaty, but Fawkner did not think it was valid and refused to leave.
Disputes Over the Treaty
On August 26, 1835, Governor Bourke issued a Proclamation. This official statement said that agreements like Batman's Treaty were "void and of no effect." This meant they were not valid against the rights of the British Crown. The proclamation also said that anyone on "vacant land of the Crown" without permission was trespassing.
The main reason the treaty was rejected was that Batman tried to make a deal directly with Aboriginal people. At that time, British colonists did not believe Aboriginal people owned the land. Also, Batman bought the land for his private group, not for the Crown.
Was the Treaty Valid?
Many people have questioned if the treaty was truly valid. It's possible that the "signatures" of the eight Wurundjeri elders were actually made by one of the Aboriginal men Batman brought from Parramatta. These marks looked like symbols used by Aboriginal people from that area.
Also, Batman, the Sydney Aboriginal men, and the Wurundjeri elders did not speak the same language. It is very likely that the elders did not understand the treaty in the same way Europeans did. They probably saw it as part of a series of gift exchanges, similar to a tanderrum ceremony. This ceremony allows temporary access to and use of the land. The European idea of property ownership was completely new to most Aboriginal peoples.
Despite these issues, Batman's Treaty is still important. It is the only known attempt to make an agreement for land use between white colonists and local Aboriginal people in Australia. Batman believed the treaty was valid until he died in 1839.
Some historians once thought the treaty was a fake. However, the memories of Aboriginal elder William Barak helped confirm that a signing ceremony did happen. Barak was a boy when the treaty was signed and was present at the event.
Even though it's called "Batman's Treaty," the document itself is more like a private sale between individuals. It talks about "Give Grant Enfeoff and confirm unto the said John Batman his heirs and assigns." This means it was a private agreement, not a public one between nations.
In 2015, a new private treaty was made between a solicitor and the Dabee clan of the Wiradjuri Nation in New South Wales. This agreement was not based on Native Title and was the first of its kind.
See also
In Spanish: Tratado de Batman para niños
Images for kids
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Artist's impression from the 1880s of the treaty being signed
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1835 map showing the area of Port Phillip, stating that this is the land "Acquired by Treaty with the Native Chiefs, 6 June 1835"
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The "Melbourne" deed John Batman is said to have presented to the Kulin nations' leaders and to have it signed by them on 6 June 1835. This was intended to be evidence for Batman to claim, on behalf of the Port Phillip Association, much of the land around Port Phillip Bay.
