The Bidjigal warrior who waged a twelve-year guerrilla war against British colonial expansion

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Pemulwuy was a legendary Dharug resistance fighter who led a sustained campaign against British settlers in New South Wales. Revered as a spiritual healer and cleverman, he survived multiple wounds and escapes, becoming a symbol of defiance whose remains were sent to England as a trophy of colonial conflict.

Born around 1750 near Botany Bay, Pemulwuy was a Bidjigal warrior of the Dharug Nation. He was distinguished by a physical blemish in his left eye and a damaged left foot, traits that contributed to his reputation as a carradhy, or spiritual healer. Before his resistance began, he maintained a complex relationship with the early colony, trading meat for goods. However, his opposition to the British intensified following the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, which he viewed as an intrusion upon his people's land and culture.

In 1790, Pemulwuy launched a twelve-year guerrilla war, targeting colonial farms and infrastructure. His tactics included burning crops and killing livestock to disrupt the settlement. He famously survived a skull fracture inflicted by John Caesar in 1795 and a severe shooting during the 1797 Battle of Parramatta, where he was hit seven times. These near-death experiences cemented his reputation among the Dharug as being invincible to British firearms, leading him to take increasingly bold risks in battle.

The conflict concluded on or just before 2 June 1802, when Pemulwuy was killed, possibly by Henry Hacking. Following his death, his head was removed and sent to Sir Joseph Banks in England. While Governor Philip Gidley King described him as a 'terrible pest,' he also acknowledged Pemulwuy's bravery. Today, the search for his remains continues, with his legacy preserved through oral tradition, art, and the ongoing efforts of his descendants to bring him home.

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