Piper

Portrait of Piper, c.1836Piper ( – ?), also known as John Piper and Jemmy Piper, was a Wiradjuri man from the Bathurst region of New South Wales who led Sir Thomas Mitchell's 1836 expedition along the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers and into what is now known as the State of Victoria.

Early life Details of Piper's early life are unclear, except that he was born , to a Wiradjuri clan near the site which became the British military outpost of Bathurst. As a boy he survived the Bathurst War between the colonists and his people. It appears that he obtained the name of Piper during adolescence after becoming associated, probably as servant, with the military officer John Piper who was granted the estate of Alloway Bank near Bathurst in the mid-1820s.

Mitchell's 1836 expedition In 1836, the chief surveyor of the colony of New South Wales, Thomas Mitchell, was tasked with exploring the major rivers to the south-west of Sydney. He arrived in Bathurst in March of that year with his entourage of around 25 men, herds of livestock, and drays filled with supplies. At Bathurst, he entered into an agreement with Piper to act as a guide and envoy to assist the large group through the lands of the 'savage natives'. As part of the arrangement, Piper was given a horse, food, clothes and weapons, including a carbine and sword.

Piper led Mitchell's expedition down the Lachlan River, where he interacted with the local Wiradjuri clans, facilitating the travel through their countries. Piper initially maintained traditional culture such as refusing to emu meat, which was reserved for elders, and following prolonged introductory customs when meeting new tribesmen.

In a similar situation at Lake Boga, Piper was confronted by a group of 12 local Indigenous men who were angry at Piper for bringing white people to their country and threw spears at him. Piper subsequently shot one of them dead.

Mitchell's 1846/47 expedition In December 1846, Mitchell started on another expedition, this time into the uncolonised northern parts of the New South Wales. He again set out from the Bathurst region and again took on Piper as his main Indigenous guide. Piper was given a horse, clothing, rations and a double-barrelled shotgun. However, Piper soon became disillusioned with the expedition and it was revealed to Mitchell that he was going to abandon the group, taking with him Mitchell's other Aboriginal guide, Yuranigh. Despite Piper's clear importance to Mitchell in the previous expedition, Mitchell now viewed Piper as unforgivably disloyal, referring to him as a 'true savage'. Before Piper could enact his plan, Mitchell had him arrested and placed in chains. Piper was sent back to Bathurst under police escort. Nothing further is known of Piper.