In 1770, Captain Cook got secret instructions to find the ‘Great South Land’.
His ship The Endeavour sailed into Kamay Botany Bay, the land of the Gweagal people.
How did the Gweagal people meet Captain Cook and his crew?
How did they communicate?
What happened over the eight days that Captain Cook stayed in Botany Bay?
Students from Marrickville West Primary School in Sydney tell us what they know about this encounter.
Ray Ingrey and Paul Irish, along with Captain Cook’s own diary, tell the story of this first meeting, answer kids’ questions, and reflect on how it went.
How to use this episode in your classroom
Voices
Episode image
Gweagal spears reproduced with the permission of the Dharawal and La Perouse community, and Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, formerly MAA D 1914.1-4
Transcript
Download a transcript of First meetings at Kamay Botany Bay in Word
Download a transcript of First meetings at Kamay Botany Bay as PDF
Music
Curiously and Curiously and Roundpine by Blue Dot Sessions.
Transcript
Download a transcript of First meetings at Kamay Botany Bay in Word
Download a transcript of First meetings at Kamay Botany Bay as PDF
Credits
Thanks to all the students whose voices you hear in this episode and their schools and teachers: Sandy Bay Primary school, Marrickville West Primary School, Westbourne Grammar School, Preshil Primary School, La Perouse Primary School, and Yirrkala Bilingual School.
Hey History! is produced by the Australian Centre for Public History at UTS and UTS Impact Studios.
Impact Studios' executive producer is Sarah Gilbert.