Description:
The story of Mullawallah (the last King Billy of Ballarat) brings together excellent research and a sensitive and passionate approach to this early period of Ballarat's seldom-told history. It spans the life of one Wathaurung man, Mullawallah, known as King Billy. Janice Newton shows a thoughtful approach to the difficult subject of early contact and of the relations between Aboriginal leaders and Europeans. Images rarely seen before enhance the pages of this well research text. (From back cover).
Description:
When Mullawallah (also known as King Billy, Frank or William Wilson) died of exposure/exhaustion on 23 September 1896, many of the Ballarat community took a somewhat ghoulish interest in viewing the corpse at the Ballarat and District Hospital morgue. Mullawallah was laid in a black and gold open coffin, decorated with golden representations of Aboriginal weapons. The hospital gardener made a special boomerang-shaped wreath of wattle blossom which was placed on his chest. A few days later, on 26 September, hundreds of residents, including local Members of Parliament, assembled for the beginning of the funeral procession at the hospital. They wished to be part of what they believed was the historic occasion of the passing of the 'last of the Ballarat tribe'. Key local churches and institutions had jostled to organise this burial. Ultimately, it was the Anglican Archedeacon who presided over the service and the Methodists who donated the grave plot.