Learning module:
How did Cook’s Endeavour voyage change Australia forever?
Investigation 6: The story
6.5 How did Aboriginal people react to the Endeavour?
Wanda Gibson / Hopevale Art Centre
As the Endeavour travelled up the east coast of Australia, Cook and his crew met with different responses from the local Aboriginal people. At Botany Bay (Kamay) the Dharawal people appeared to be hostile towards them. At the Endeavour River (Waalumbaal Birri) the Guugu Yimithirr people eventually made good relations with them. However, even here relations became more difficult when Cook refused to share any of the turtles his men had captured with his local hosts. The Guugu Yimithirr people considered this to be disrespectful and were very offended.
1. Do some research to find out more about what happened when Cook encountered some of the Dharawal people at Botany Bay (Kamay).
2. How accurately does this image appear to capture what happened there?
National Museum of Australia
3. Now look again at the colourful image from the start of this section. What does it show and what part of the Cook story does it belong to?
Wanda Gibson / Hopevale Art Centre
4. Cook and his crew spent a lot more time with the Guugu Yimithirr people at Endeavour River. How would your group describe the relationship between them over that period of time?
5. Visitors arrive where you live and take some of your things. You can’t understand the language they are speaking. How would you respond? Discuss this in your group.
6. Are you surprised by the different responses to Cook and his party by Aboriginal people at Botany Bay and the Endeavour River? Discuss with your group what the reasons for this difference may have been.
7. Your group now has to present part 5 of the ‘Cook claims Australia’ story to the rest of the class. Choose what you think are the most important things you have found out and then work out a creative way of presenting that information.
