public artwork commemorates Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, two First Nations men who were publicly hanged in Melbourne in 1842 when Koorie peoples were forcefully expelled from their lands.

https://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/conflict/frontier/display/110474-standing-by-tunnerminnerwait-and-maulboyheenner

#Colonialism #FirstNations #FreedomFighters #FrontierWars #Maulboyheener #Monuments #Tunnerminnerwait

Standing By Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheenner | Monument Australia

<p>The public artwork commemorates Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, two Tasmanian Aboriginal men who were publicly hanged in Melbourne in 1842. It marks a period in Victoria’s history when Koorie peoples were forcefully expelled from their lands. <br /> <br /> <em>Standing by Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner</em> is a permanent marker that is experimental and empowering. It begs contemporary viewers to embrace innovative processes of how to remember their tragic story through historical artistic representations of the ready-made object.</p> <p>The permanent marker comprises six brightly coloured newspaper stands, a static solid bluestone swing, indigenous food and medicine plantings and a reproduction suburban Victorian style fence.</p> <p>The brightly coloured newspaper stands represent colours of both the Aboriginal and Australian flags: red, white, blue yellow and black. Australian and Aboriginal law have often clashed and this story is one that represents this clash, hence the colours of the flags coming together. Newspapers in each stand acknowledge diverse early colonial and Aboriginal histories of Melbourne and Tasmania, heritage stories and the specific story of Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener.</p> <p>The static solid bluestone swing and tomb-like structure with the names Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner engraved on the side invites visitors to the site to sit, contemplate and reflect. The children’s swing seat becomes the tomb, laden with memory and history.</p> <p>The pavement in bluestone and a woven wire gate reflect the nostalgic history of Melbourne. The bluestone path, a continuation from the Old Melbourne Gaol connects the two sites, signifying connection to a complex history involving crime and punishment in early Melbourne</p> <p>The structure sits amongst indigenous medicine plants that are useful for regeneration and native to the landscape of Parperloihener clan (Cape Grim), Iarapuna (Bay of Fires), Woiworung and Boonwurrung of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne).</p> <p>Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were two Palawa men who were executed for the killing of two whalers. They were executed at a time when frontier wars between Koorie and colonist populations were raging across the mainland and systematic genocide had been undertaken across Tasmania.​ They were born in Tasmania and brought to Melbourne in 1839 by George Augustus Robinson, the 'Protector of Aborigines'.  In 1842, they became the first people to be hanged in Melbourne after they were convicted for the murder of two whale-hunters in the Western Port area. Their execution was the biggest story of the day in the newspapers.</p> <p>Their execution took place before the existence of Old Melbourne Gaol on Russell Street, which was being constructed at the time. Instead, they were publicly hanged on Franklin Street behind the City Baths. They are now understood to be buried on the site of the Queen Victoria Market.</p> <p> </p>

Live outside broadcast for Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner

Tune in for a live broadcast from the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration. Since 2006, at midday on 20 January, the Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee (TMCC) has held a public ceremony to honour the tens of thousands of First Nations men, women, and children who were slaughtered during the colonisation process—a process whose impacts continue to profoundly affect First Nations people today. Get along to the event (corner Victoria St & Franklin St, Melbourne — the site of their execution 183 years ago), or listen in for the live broadcast from 12-1pm.

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Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance heroes set to be honoured at interstate commemoration

The legacy of two Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance fighters is set to be honoured in Melbourne this month.A public ceremony will be held on January 20 to honour Tunnerminnerwait, a Parperloihener clans...

National Indigenous Times

🖤💛❤️ Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheenner Commemoration 2026

In 2016, #Melbourne City Council erected the #Tunnerminnerwait and #Maulboyheenner monument at the site where these two Indigenous freedom fighters were publicly executed on 20 January 1842.

Since 2006, Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee holds a public ceremony corner Victoria St & Franklin St, Melbourne — the site of their execution 184 years ago.

🕛 Tuesday 20 January 2026 From midday

🖤💛❤️

Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance heroes set to be honoured at interstate commemoration

The legacy of two Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance fighters is set to be honoured in Melbourne this month.A public ceremony will be held on January 20 to honour Tunnerminnerwait, a Parperloihener clans...

National Indigenous Times
Les Thomas - Tunnerminnerwait and Mauboyheener will be remembered

YouTube
Tunnerminnerwait - Wikipedia

Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheenner Commemoration 2025

There will be a LIVE broadcast from this event from 12-1pm. The Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration Committee invites you to the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner Commemoration which will be held at the Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner monument at midday, Monday 20 January 2025 at the corner of Victoria St and Franklin St, Melbourne.The colonisation of Australia was a brutal affair that continues to have a profound impact on First Nations people, as well as the rest of Australians.

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