Tasmania’s Aboriginal community says it is “heartbroken” by the vandalism of a sacred site at Flinders Island, saying it has been treated with “reckless disregard”.<\/p>\n
Wybalenna was Australia’s first mission, operating in the 1800s as an open-air detention facility for more than 200 Aboriginal men, women and children.<\/p>\n
Many died there, faced with poor shelter, insufficient food, disease and loss of freedom.<\/p>\n
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Wybalenna was established in 1833. (Supplied: State Library and Archive Service)<\/p>\n
When it closed in 1847, only 48 people remained.<\/p>\n
After years of activism, the site was returned to Aboriginal people in 1999 and remains an important place for remembrance, healing and cultural connection.<\/p>\n
But Aboriginal Tasmanians are reeling after the grounds were marked with burnout tracks, and a water tank drained while the island grapples with drought.<\/p>\n
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Wybalenna is a historic site of cultural significance to Aboriginal people. (Supplied: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania)<\/p>\n
Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) chair Greg Brown called it “devastating” and “painful”.<\/p>\n
“Wybalenna is a place of memory, of grief, and of resilience. It embodies the history of Tasmania’s Aboriginal people and their enduring connection to the land,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It was basically a prison camp for my ancestors \u2026 we weren’t allowed to practice our culture or language.”<\/p>\n
Greg Brown described Wybalenna as a “prison camp”. (Supplied: Greg Brown)<\/p>\n
Mr Brown said more than 100 Aboriginal people were buried at unmarked graves at the site’s cemetery, alongside marked non-Aboriginal plots.<\/p>\n
“The damage that it’s caused to my people, but also \u2026 disturbing the old people like that [is] extremely disrespectful, and I’d just like them to understand it’s not just damage to the ground from the wheel marks,” he said.<\/p>\n
Pakana Sea Country ranger Fiona Maher said it was unfathomable.<\/p>\n
“We’re quite upset and devastated that someone could even lower themselves to commit such an act in such a sacred place,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We feel very close to our ancestors there, and it’s a place of healing for our people. This has definitely upset our healing journey.”<\/p>\n
Wybalenna was an operational mission for 14 years. (ABC News: )<\/p>\n
She said no local could fail to know the significance of Wybalenna.<\/p>\n
“The devastation of what happened to our people, it’s a very well-known story on Flinders, so yes, I do think it is a local,” she said.<\/p>\n
Tasmania Police was notified on Monday afternoon and is continuing investigations.<\/p>\n
“Vandals have driven a vehicle, or vehicles, over land at Wybalenna sacred site, near Emita, on the western side of Flinders Island,” it said.<\/p>\n
“The ground has been torn up by a series of vehicle skids and ‘donuts.'”<\/p>\n
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Tasmania Police is continuing investigations into the vandalism. (Supplied: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania)<\/p>\n
Mr Brown said the vandalism threatened to undo the tireless work of the ALCT, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), and Truwana rangers, who spent decades caring for the site.<\/p>\n
And he said it was particularly disappointing given significant resources had been poured in to improving Wybalenna, and starting the truth-telling journey, to invite members of the community to stay.<\/p>\n
“We thought we’d turned the corner in the change of attitudes, but obviously there’s still a bit of work to be done,” he said.<\/p>\n
Wybalenna was handed back to Aboriginal people in 1999. (Supplied: Gregory P Lehman)<\/p>\n
But he stressed his people were resilient, and had the broader support of the island.<\/p>\n