Charlotte Wheeler

Description

Content Warning

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this item contains images and names of deceased persons in photographs

Accession[1976.0013] Consolidated Records of the Strathfieldsaye EstatePart of ItemRamahyuck Mission Station AlbumIdentifierUMA-ITE-1976001300125Extentnot specifiedScope and ContentPhotograph of Charlotte Wheeler. This individual photograph is part of the Ramayhuck Mission Station Album (1976.0013 - Unit 82) 4.13). See also Charlotte Wheeler in photograph: 1976.0013.00125
Charlotte Wheeler ( - 1908) was married to Neddy Wheeler (1841-1908) a Dhudhuroa man from Mitta Mitta River in North Eastern Victoria. Neddy Wheeler is the youngest son of ‘Queen Mary from Welaregang, a Wolgal woman. She married King Billy Elangeit, a Barwidgee man and the son of Jillamatong.’ Neddy Wheeler was a key Dhudhuroa language informant for RH Mathews.

Charlotte and Neddy Wheeler had seven children: Harry, George, Thomas, Dolly, Effie, Jane and Beccie/Kate. The Wheeler children were educated at Kiewa state school. Charlotte Wheeler with her child Harry were photographed in 1870 by Thomas J. Washbourne; as too was Neddy Wheeler. These photographs are in the State Library of Victoria and other collections.

Charlotte and was taken from the Kiewa Valley with her children Harry, Thomas and Katie by the authorities and taken to Gippsland missions c.1880. ‘The local police felt it justified to become involved with this family and set out to remove Charlotte and her children away from her husband whilst she was in Gundowring. Charlotte had become paralysed down one side of her body from sleeping on the damp earth when she had become unwell. Her husband was hunting in Mt. Murramurrangbong and the police set in and removed her and the kids. They took her and her remaining children [Harry, Thomas and Katie] to Ramahyuck. when Ramahyuck closed [in 1908], she was moved to Lake Tyers. The authorities told her husband she and her children were dead - I don’t think her husband ever learned the truth.’ Neddy Wheeler spent his remaining days at Lake Moodemere at Wahgunyah. ‘Charlotte died from injuries incurred when her Gunyah [shelter] caught on fire: she refused to upkeep the dressing on her wounds. She died one week after her husband Neddy Wheeler.’ (Carter, Megan, October 2018 ‘Thomas Jetson Washbourne’s photographs: Charlotte Wheeler’ https://dhudhuroaandwaywurruancestors.wordpress.com/2018/10/17/thomas-jetson-washbournes-photographs-charlotte-wheeler/ (Accessed 03/05/2019) This archival description is informed by family knowledge and published resources, extensive research has been conducted by Megan Carter, descendant of Charlotte Wheeler.

These photographs have been published with the expressed intent of making Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) cultural heritage held at UMA, known and available to families and communities for reclamation. In its role of collecting and caring for cultural heritage, UMA recognises that it has a duty to the persons in the photograph, their descents and to facilitate connections to culture and kin. To date (July 2018) the descriptions of these photographs have based on current published resources, which can sometimes have contradictory information concerning dates, names or places. UMA has attempted to represent these differences, where they occur, rather than determining which is correct. We greatly welcome all feedback and comments about improving the current descriptions, as well as including family and community perspectives. Larger digital images can be requested via our reference services (there is no fee, except if you are seeking a higher resolution copy than we currently have) contact: archives@archives.unimelb.edu.au Original photographs may be requested and viewed via archives@archives.unimelb.edu.au

See: P Pepper with T De Araugo, What did happen to the Aborigines of Victoria, vol. 1, The Kurnai of Gippsland, (Hyland House, Melbourne, 1985), p. 184.

PLACE NAMES: Mitta Mitta (SW NSW SI55-11)
PLACE NAMES: Kiewa (E Vic SJ55-03)
PLACE NAMES: Ramahyuck (E Vic Gippsland SJ55-11)
PLACE NAMES: Lake Wellington / Ramahyuck (E Vic Gippsland SJ55-11)
PLACE NAMES: Welaregang (NSW)
PLACE NAMES: Gundowring (VIC)
PLACE NAMES: Mt Murramurrangbong (VIC)
PLACE NAMES: Wahgunyah / Lake Moodemere (E Vic SJ55-03)
KEYWORDS: Koori, Aboriginal, Indigenous
KEYWORD: Religions - Christianity - Missions

TINDALE TRIBES: Duduroa (alt. spelling of Dhudhuroa) http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/duduroa.htm
TINDALE TRIBES: Walgalu (alt. spelling of Wolgal) http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/walgalu.htm
All photographs contained in this album have been digitised and are available online.Access StatusAccess restrictions applyRequest TypeRequest unitUnitBWP Album 0209Copyright StatusPublic domainConditions of Use and ReproductionThis image is out of copyright. Users are also advised that this work may be subject to terms and conditions imposed by Indigenous communities and/or depositors. It is provided for research purposes and must not be reproduced without acknowledgement of the University of Melbourne Archives. For information about ordering a copy of this image contact the University of Melbourne Archives: archives@archives.unimelb.edu.au.MenuBrowse digitised items | Available online | Items in the public domain

Provenance

CreatorDisher, Harold CliveRoleProvenance

Dates

Datec.1900

Description Control

Previous System ID1976.0013.00125Format NumberPA/198 p13 (Ramahyuck Album 8.

Characteristics

Genre/FormPhotographic printsDimensions10.5 x 8.2 cm

Relationships

Feature CollectionIndigenous Cultural Heritage in the University of Melbourne Archives

Subjects

SubjectAboriginal AustraliansIndigenous AustraliansFirst PeoplesReligions - Christianity - MissionsSubject (Agent)Wheeler, CharlotteSubject (Place)Ramahyuck MissionLake Wellington / Ramahyuck (E Vic Gippsland SJ55-11)Wahgunyah / Lake Moodemere (E Vic SJ55-03) Last edited by: stellamarr@unimelb.edu.au