They say he founded a city. Right before you stands the Founder’s statue, a bronze figure frozen in time, a monument to John Batman. He’s a figure shrouded in as much controversy as he is in acclaim. John Batman, a name synonymous with the very beginnings of Melbourne. But was he a visionary leader or a ruthless colonizer? The answer, like most things in history, is complicated. Batman arrived in Port Phillip in 1835, seeking land for a new settlement. He negotiated a treaty with the Wurundjeri people, the original inhabitants of this land, a deal that promised them blankets, knives, and other goods in exchange for over 600,000 acres.
This treaty, though deemed illegal by the British government at the time, is a significant event. It underscores the complex and often fraught relationship between the colonists and the Aboriginal people. Batman’s legacy is forever entwined with this act, a reminder of the dispossession and the resilience of the Indigenous population. Today, the Founder’s statue stands as a silent witness to the city’s tumultuous past. It’s a potent symbol that compels us to confront the complexities of history and acknowledge the stories of all who have shaped this land.