Stage 2 (Year 3) Community and remembrance
Students learn about identity and diversity in both a local and broader context. Moving from the heritage of their local area, students
explore the historical features and diversity of their community as represented in symbols and emblems of significance, and
celebrations and commemorations, both locally and in other places around the world.
Topic:
Billy Blue
Key inquiry question
What is the nature of the contribution made by different groups and individuals in the community?
Content
The role that people of diverse backgrounds have played in the development and character of the local community (ACHHK062).
Students:
focusing on ONE group, investigate their diverse backgrounds and outline their contribution to the local community using a range of
resources
Student learning activity
Students use photos to understand historical perspective and empathy.
The activities are designed to help students to:
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use sketches and paintings from the State Library of NSW to write an historical narrative about the life of Billy Blue and his
contribution to Australian society.
understand historical perspective; that there is more than one view or interpretation of history.
develop literacy skills by writing an historical narrative in the first person from the perspective of another person.
Tell the story of Billy Blue to students, either by reading the ‘Background Information’ or telling it in your own words.
1 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
Activity 1: Call me ‘Commodore’ – or else!
Students:
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listen to the story of the life of Billy Blue (teacher reads or tells
the story to class).
remember three important things about the life experience and
personality of Billy Blue; talk about them with their peers and/or
write them down.
think about what it would have been like to be Billy Blue at this
time in history (empathy) and discuss what life would have
been like in the colony from his perspective.
use the scaffold provided to write the story of the life of Billy
Blue from Billy’s perspective.
include the three important things they remembered from the
story.
Painting of Billy Blue, 1834 by J. B. East
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPa
ged.cgi?itemID=404717
2 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
The Old Commodore, Billy Blue. Drawn on Stone by John
Carmichael
Sketch of Billy Blue "The Old Commodore" by Charles Rhodius, 1834
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemLarge.cg
i?itemID=822440&size=full&album=1&collection=824681
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?ite
mID=411358
3 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
Painting of Sydney Cove on a Chinese-style
punchbowl.
It shows the two-storey, stone hexagonal (sixsided) cottage given as a residence to Billy
Blue by Governor Macquarie.
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/i
temDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=421505
The Life of Billy Blue
Historical sources tell us that Billy Blue was illiterate. When asked to sign his name all he could do was draw an ‘X’. This means
that everything we know about Billy Blue was written by other people.
Let’s imagine what it would have been like to be Billy Blue. What would he have written about his life if he had been able to write?
Write the story of Billy Blue’s life from his perspective. Start with some ideas…
4 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
DRAFT OF MY STORY - My name is Billy Blue, call me ‘Commodore’ – or else!
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Who am I?
When was I born?
Where was I born?
How did I end up in Sydney Cove? When did I arrive?
Why am I writing about my life? Why is it important?
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What did I look like? What was my personality like?
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What happened in my life? (Three points from the story)
1.
2.
3.
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How would I like to be remembered?
5 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
MY NAME IS BILLY BLUE –
CALL ME ‘COMMODORE’, OR ELSE!
This is my favourite portrait
Introduction
Why I am writing about my life
My personality and appearance
What happened in my life?
How I would like to be remembered.
6 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
Background notes for teachers
Billy Blue was a convict who was transported to Sydney for stealing sugar in London. The convict records of 1796 state that he was
‘a Jamaican negro sailor’ aged about 29, so he was born about 1767. However Billy Blue said that he fought in the American War
of Independence (1776) and in an 1828 census claimed he was 80 years of age; this would mean he was born around 1748 and in
America.
Whatever the truth of his origins and age, Billy Blue arrived in Sydney in 1801 and completed his sentence in 1803. In 1805, living
in a house at The Rocks, he married the English convict Elizabeth Williams and they had six children.
Contemporary sources tell us that Billy had a genial and entertaining nature. He gained the favour of Governor Macquarie, who
appointed him harbour watchman in 1811. One of the perks of the job was the provision of a stone hexagonal (six-sided) watch
house overlooking the harbour, on the eastern side of Circular Quay. The house soon became known as Billy Blue’s cottage.
In 1817 Governor Macquarie granted Billy Blue 80 acres of land on the north shore. He moved there with his family and the
promontory soon became known as Blues Point. Billy was also appointed the official ferryman for the north shore and he would row
soldiers from Dawes Point across to Blues Point to cut grass for their horses. Macquarie often used Billy’s ferry service and
mentions in his diary about Billy taking Macquarie’s wife and son up to the Governor’s house in Parramatta.
A track (now known as Blues Point Road) soon led from the Blues Point wharf up to St Leonards, and Billy Blue’s ferry service
became the first and major transport link that helped open up the north shore for settlers. In fact within a short time Billy owned so
many small ferry boats that Macquarie joked that with such a fleet he should be called Commodore (a high ranking naval officer).
The nickname stuck and from that day on Billy Blue became known as The Old Commodore.
Like so many other ex-convicts of his time, Billy also took the opportunity to make money in other ways, and in 1818 was arrested
for smuggling rum. He lost his job as watchman, but still ran the ferry service.
In 1822 Billy’s benefactor, Governor Macquarie, returned to his native land and business rivals were temporarily successful in
shutting down Billy’s ferry service through various allegations. He regained the right to run it again in 1825.
7 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
Elizabeth Blue died in 1827 and Billy became increasingly eccentric. Wearing a battered coat, top hat and cane he would often be
seen in George Street or would board ships in the harbour, demanding people acknowledge him as ‘the Commodore’, and abusing
them if they did not. In 1829 Billy was again gaoled for sheltering a run-away convict but was released on paying a fine.
Billy Blue died in 1834 and newspapers of the time wrote obituaries that praised his humour, honoured his connections with the
origins of the colony, and said regretfully that ‘We may never look upon his like again’. A portrait of him painted by J B East was
exhibited soon after Billy’s death to general praise.
The legacy of the convict pioneer, Billy Blue, was the opening up of the north shore with his ferry service, and his endearment to
Sydneysiders as a character. In 1850 his son John Blue went on to build the Old Commodore Hotel and his daughter Susannah
owned the Billy Blue Inn, both near Blues Point. Various streets in the area are named after him and his children.
Billy Blue’s ‘voice’
As an illiterate convict you would expect that Billy Blue’s voice in history would be barely heard. All that you would know about him
would be through what others chose to record.
However, Billy Blue was involved in a number of court cases in which his testimony was reported both as a witness for the
prosecution and for the defence.
He also paid an amanuensis (a clerk or secretary who takes dictation) to write down his version of his life story as part of a petition
to the Governor to restore the ferry service to him.
Billy Blue’s inability to read and write did not prevent him from engaging in the life of the colony and being well-loved and wellremembered. But who knows what we would have discovered if he had been able to keep his own journal.
Note: The Mitchell Library's punchbowl (below), made in about 1820, is one of the most spectacular mementoes of a time only 30
years after its foundation, when Sydney had already become a multi-national port and destination on Asian and Pacific sea trade
routes.
8 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum History K - 10
Outcomes
Historical Skills
HT2-2 describes and explains how
significant individuals, groups and
events contributed to changes in the
local community over time
Comprehension: chronology, terms and
concepts
HT2-5 applies skills of historical
inquiry and communication
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use historical terms (ACHHS066, ACHHS082)
Analysis and use of sources
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locate relevant information from sources provided
(ACHHS068, ACHHS084, ACHHS215,
ACHHS216)
Perspectives and interpretations
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identify different points of view within an historical
context (ACHHS069, ACHHS085)
Explanation and communication
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develop texts, particularly narratives (ACHHS070,
ACHHS086)
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use as range of communication forms (oral,
graphic, written) and digital technologies
(ACHHS071, ACHHS087)
9 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)
Historical concepts
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Significance: importance of an
event, development or
individual/group
Learning across the curriculum
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Literacy
Difference and diversity
Resources
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Biography of Billy Blue
Park, Margaret, 'Blue, William (Billy) (1767–1834)', Australian Dictionary of Biography,
National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/blue-william-billy-12804
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Obituary for Billy Blue in The Sydney Monitor, 10 May 1834 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/32146245
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Article about Billy Blue - Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 1947 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18024537
10 | State Library of New South Wales: NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum – History (Billy Blue)