Earle, Augustus, 1793-1838.
The annual meeting of the Aboriginal tribes at Parramatta,
New South Wales, the Governor meeting them [picture]
[1826?] 1 watercolour ; 17.1 x 26 cm. (National Library of Australia)
On the 28 December 1814 Governor Macquarie organised a meeting with local tribes at Parramatta to discuss the enrollment of children in a newly formed "Asylum for Native Children". At one o'clock Macquarie and his wife, accompanied by a number of civil and military officers, arrived at the market place adjacent to St John's Cathedral. After talking for an hour to overcome the suspicions of the local aborigines three children were finally yielded up to the project and a meal of roast beef and ale was provided to those in attendance.
