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Sydney History, Collins Beach Manly
Collins Beach is named after Captain David Collins, a judge advocate with the first fleet. It is recorded that on September 7th 1790, Govenor Arthur Phillip met the Aborigine called Benelong at Collins beach. Benelong gave him a gift of whalemeat from a dead whale that had washed ashore. Benelong had previously been captured and brought to live with Phillip at Government House but he had escaped. A Captain Watkin Tench recorded that Phillip gave Benelong a glass of wine to which Benelong toasted "to the King" and spoke with Phillip for some half an hour. An Aborigine with a spear came forward seeming agitated. The Governor, wishing to diffuse the situation threw down the dagger he wore at his side. The Aborigine, fixed his spear in his throwing stick and threw it at Phillip hitting him just below the collarbone. The spear, glancing down came out the other side of Phillips back and the native ran off. The spear was barbed. Phillip tried to escape to a boat but the weight of the spear prevented it as he ran trying to hold it upright. A Mr Waterhouse tried to break the spear to no avail. The story goes that another spear was thrown from the bush and took the skin off Waterhouse's thumb and forefinger. Waterhouse managed to break the spear that was embedded in Phillip and their party got into their boat and made haste. It took 2 hours to row to Government House. Phillip survived and insisted no action to be taken against those responsible.
This story is now in doubt as some historians believe the above happened at Manly Cove. Email me
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