Dr William Hingston Baylie, 1815-1867: On the Aborigines of the Goulburn River District, Victoria, Australia by Dr Ian D. Clark

This is a facsimile publication of Dr William Hingston Baylie’s 1843 essay on the Aboriginal people of the Goulburn River district of Victoria where he served as medical officer from September 1841 until April 1842. Born in 1815 in Cork, Ireland, Dr Baylie arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, in January 1840. He sailed to Melbourne the following month, where he established a medical practice. In September 1841 he was engaged by the Port Phillip Aboriginal Protectorate as Medical Officer, and serviced the Goulburn, Loddon, and Western Port Protectorate districts. Baylie soon realised that the Protectorate districts required their own medical officers as the medical needs of the Aboriginal peoples across the Port Phillip District were too much for one person to service. In early April 1842 he wrote to his superiors about his financial situation and subsequently fell out of favour and was his appointment ended in late April. After leaving employment in the Protectorate he held positions such as Surgeon in the Convict Service Van Diemens Land; and District Surgeon, Geelong. He served as the Mayor of Geelong from 1853 until 1855.

In February 1843, Baylie published a paper entitled ‘On the Aborigines of the Goulburn District’ in issue 11 of the Port Phillip Magazine. The Port Phillip Gazette published a favourable review of his paper. This edition republishes Baylie’s 1843 essay. An introductory essay presents a history into Baylie’s life and career.

ISBN: 979-8481605173

Paperback, 70pp, 2021

$22.41

2 in stock