Yemmerrawanne facts for kids

Yemmerrawanne (born around 1775, died May 18, 1794) was an Aboriginal boy from the Wangal people. They were part of the Eora nation, living near Port Jackson (modern-day Sydney) when the first British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788. He traveled to England with Governor Arthur Phillip and another Aboriginal man, Bennelong, in 1792. Sadly, Yemmerrawanne became sick and passed away in England, so he never returned home to Australia.

Life in Australia

Yemmerrawanne was well-known to the early British settlers. Captain Watkin Tench described him as a "good-tempered lively lad." He became a favorite with the settlers and often stayed at the governor's house. The British even made clothes for him, and he learned how to wait on tables.

In February 1791, when Yemmerrawanne was about 16 years old, he went through an important Aboriginal custom. This was an initiation ceremony where one of his front teeth was gently knocked out.

Journey to England

In December 1792, Governor Arthur Phillip left the new colony to return to England. He sailed on a ship called the Atlantic. Yemmerrawanne and Bennelong went with Governor Phillip. They chose to go "voluntarily and cheerfully," even though they knew England was "at a great distance."

The ship stopped in Rio de Janeiro on its way. People there noticed Yemmerrawanne and Bennelong. They were described as "well proportioned" and "of a sweet nature." They were happy to show their dances and gestures. They also learned to speak Portuguese very quickly. The group finally arrived in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, in May 1793.

Life in England

After arriving in London, Yemmerrawanne and Bennelong received fashionable clothes. These clothes were suitable for English society. They stayed in Mayfair at the home of William Waterhouse. They visited many shows and enjoyed other fun activities in London. Teachers were hired to help them learn to read, write, and speak English even better.

While in Mayfair, Yemmerrawanne and Bennelong performed a recital. They sang a native song and used clapsticks. One person who watched them, Edward Jones, wrote down their song. He published the words and music in 1811. This is the oldest known published music from Australia.

Illness and Death

In September 1793, Yemmerrawanne became ill. He looked very thin and weak. The next month, he hurt his leg, and his health continued to get worse. Both Aboriginal men were moved to Eltham. There, a doctor named Gilbert Blane treated Yemmerrawanne.

Despite different treatments, his illness continued. Yemmerrawanne passed away on May 18, 1794. He was about 19 years old. The cause was a lung infection. He was buried in the local churchyard in Eltham.

Over the years, there have been efforts to bring Yemmerrawanne's remains back to Australia. People like Burnum Burnum and Geoffrey Robertson have supported these plans. However, no one knows exactly where his remains are now. His gravestone's location is known, but it has been moved several times since he was buried.

Name Variations

Like many Aboriginal words, Yemmerrawanne's name has been spelled in different ways. This is common because it was written down by different people.

• Imeerawanyee, in Tench's A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson
• Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie, in David Collins' An Account of the English Colony of NSW
• Imerewanga, by Elizabeth Macarthur
• Yemmerawanya, in Phillip's letters
• Yemmurravonyea [sic] Kebarrah, in the Eltham parish register entry of his death. Kebarrah is a special title. It means he had been initiated by having his tooth knocked out.
• Yemmerrawanyea, on his gravestone

Images for kids

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  Yemmerrawanne's tombstone in a church yard in Eltham, Kent.