Henry Wallen arrived on Kangaroo Island as a free settler in around 1819, some 17 years before the first ‘official’ settlers arrived. Along with his 3 Aboriginal wives he established his own farm at Cygnet River. When the first ‘official’ settlers arrived in 1836 Henry introduced himself as ‘The Governor’. Despite the fact that he was helpful to the colonists, the South Australian Company very unfairly dispossessed him of his farm and stock, and set up their own office there. Henry then went to Hog Bay and hunted to keep himself alive, sending his son to Hobart Town to be educated. The son (Henry Jnr) was a pall-bearer at the funeral of the last full blood Tasmanian Aboriginal man.
The Gov continued to live on Kangaroo Island until ill health required him to shift to Adelaide. He died at the Gresham Hotel in King William Street Adelaide, but his body was brought back to the island for burial. The least they could do after treating him so unfairly.
Visit cache GC3H3J6 for the location of Henry's farm.