MANLY – LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Tuesday, December 6th, 20161790 – September, Manly Beach: ‘A native with a spear in his hand came forward…His excellency held out hand…advancing towards him…the nearer, the governor approached, the greater became the terror and agitation of the Indian.
To remove his fear, governor Phillip threw down a dirk, he wore at his side…the other [Wileemarin] alarmed at the rattle of the dirk, and probably misconstruing the action, instantly fixed his lance, aimed his lance with such force and dexterity striking the governor’s right shoulder, just above the collar bone’. Marine Watkin Tench, Sydney’s First Four Years, ed. F.L. Fitzhardinge, Angus and Robertson, 1961
The spearing of Governor Phillip must be seen in the context of kidnap, disease and death. Wileemarin had every reason to strike the advancing Governor. See: Kidnapped – Manly What’s in a Name