Cultural Tours
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains images and voices of people who have died.
Induction
Induction
Thank you for joining as a guest of the Burraga Foundation on an On-Country Experience with Uncle Shayne Williams. Today we will make our way to La Perouse by bus, where you will be accompanied by Uncle Shayne Williams to learn about the area, Dharawal Culture and Uncle Shayne’s lived experience.
Uncle Shayne Williams
Dr Shayne T Williams is an Elder from the Aboriginal community of La Perouse, located on the northern side of Botany Bay in Sydney. His parents were Thomas Henry Williams OBE and Iris Williams (née Callaghan). Uncle Shayne is Dharawal through his paternal and maternal grandmothers, Dhungutti through his maternal grandfather and Gomilaroi through his paternal grandfather.
From 1991 to 2011, Shayne worked within the tertiary sector, specialising in Indigenous studies, Indigenous education and Indigenous research. He has previously worked as an Aboriginal Language and Culture Consultant with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, actively engaged in promoting the advancement of Aboriginal language and culture nests within New South Wales. Uncle Shayne has been a passionate advocate for advancing Aboriginal students through localised Aboriginal cultural education, curriculum development and the professional development of teachers. Uncle Shayne has numerous Board roles and is founding Board member of he Burraga Foundation.
Burraga Foundation
Our initiatives champion a better understanding of Aboriginal Australia for all Australians. We work in partnership with Aboriginal communities to support cultural awareness, community engagement, education and employment opportunities. www.burraga.org
Your Tour
The experience duration is approximately 2 hours in duration.
There are bathroom facilities at the location.
The experience will move to several locations by bus across La Perouse with and opportunity disembark at each.
We invite all participants to ask as many questions as you can, the experience is a culturally safe place, a good conversation supports Uncle to remember knowledge that may not come to light without your help.
Please feel free to take photos, however we ask you not to film Uncle Shayne’s teachings.
This accompanying online resources is a great way to find additional supporting information along the way via your mobile phone, we ask that you turn your phone to silent while using it to access this resource and take pictures.
Thank you for join us, we hope you have an amazing time and ask lots of questions!
Welcome to Gamay
Burri Burri
Colonial Naming
Jean-Francois Galaup De La Perouse. Commander
Commander Jean-Francois Galaup De La Perouse and his crew of approximately 225 departed the French seaport of Brest in 1785 for a four-year navigation of the Pacific. The French expedition arrived in Kamay (Botany Bay) aboard the L’Astrolabe and La Boussole. After leaving Kamay in March 1788 the two vessels sailed northward where they both disappeared somewhere in the Pacific.
Bare Island
Bare Island From Above
Old Wharf - New Wharf
La Perouse Wharf
The wharf where we used to swim during summer. We would also ask visitors to the wharf to throw a coin in the water. We would say to visitors “hey lady or mister throw a coin in the water”. The Paragon boat shed was at the entrance. We’d dive for the coins and then buy chips and a drink at the Paragon for our lunch. My eldest sister would take my twin sisters to the wharf in the 50s, sit them on the rocks and dive for pennies. She would then buy them their lunch.
Monuments
The Foundation Stone of the La Perouse Monument was laid on the 6th September, 1825, by Hyacinthe de Bougainville. De Bougainville stopped over in Sydney for 3 months during a circumnavigation of the world.
La Perouse Monument
Frenchmans Bay
My Grandmother’s Birthplace
The original La Perouse Aboriginal community housing arrangement.
La Perouse Mission
Mission Life - Elaroo Ave
Community members La Perouse Mission 1890
Dog Tags
The 'dog licence' was another name for Certificates of Exemption. It was a licence to live in a white man's world. It allowed an Aboriginal person to enter town, vote, and send their children to the local school.
Certificates of Exemption were seen by authorities as a key to 'assimilation', but could be withdrawn at any time. To get one, you were forced to renounce your culture, language and family who were still living on missions and reserves.
