One of Australian history's biggest plot twist

The legislation to set the referendum for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament passed the House of Representatives this week. Before even reaching the Senate, more news has gradually emerged regarding First Nation's representation and issues.

Arthur Phillip was born in 1738 in Moscow to a British father and German mother. Although very little is known about his childhood, it is believed that he was born into a family of navy captains and grew up in England, where he learned skills in agriculture. He left school at a young age to become a whaling apprentice. After 7 years upon a whaling indenture, enlisting in the Seven Years War and joining the Portuguese Navy, Phillip was appointed commodore of the First Fleet by Lord Sydney in 1786, after being looked upon favorably by the Britsh due to his colonial and navy experience. In 1787, Phillip commanded 11 ships with 14,000 people to Botany Bay. Arriving on January 26, 1788, he was one of the first settlers in Australia to ever arrive, making him the first governor of NSW.

Many concerns by a non for profit Melbourne based campaigned group called CHANGE THE DATE have emerged regarding who Arthur Phillip really was, despite his contribution to the settlement of the east coast of Australia and documented respectful relations with many indigenous people, if he deserves recognition with such a significant Melbournian geographical landmark.

Port Philip Bay is known for being a route of numerous ships, extensive native and unique marine life and The Rip, where the bay meets Bass Strait, known as one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. At 1,930 square kilometers wide, it is a major environmental, social and economic asset for Victoria.

The location has great historical indigenous significance. Found on Boonwurrung land, 1,000 years ago, it was just dry land with many rivers. Indigenous people inhabited the bay long before it was even formed it looks today, with evidence showing occupation at least 40,0o0 years ago.

Port Philip obtained its Shameful Name after it was formerly known as Port King, first named after Phillip Gidley King, former governor of New South Wales. On 4 September 1805, King formally renamed the bay Port Phillip, in honor of his predecessor, who was Arthur Phillip.

Not only as the first governor of the New South Wales colony, but Phillip was also to be acknowledged for his voyages along the far South East coast. The area was named prior to formation of Victoria. The indigenous name for Port Phillip Bay is Nerm.

Upon arrival to Australia, Phillip proposed farming and building upon Australian soil, to provide resources for convicts, but this was rejected by England. Instead, when first meeting indigenous people at Botany Bay, gifts were exchanged, and he proposed that “anyone harming or killing aboriginal people, would be severely punished”, believing that the British and indigenous people should learn and accept each other's beliefs, custom and languages.

They landed on Gwengal, Dharawal, and Eora nation, who lived on the NSW coast. Influenced by witnessing other cultures on previous expeditions, he set a proposal for the British and Indigenous people to live together. But no one came to live in Phillip's community, and no indigenous people showed intrested in his settlement. So he ordered them to be captured, imposed British law on them. Settlers within his colony introduced small pox, killing over half of the nearby First Nations population. Phillip then ordered soldiers to kill remaining Eora Population.

In response to Eora people dying from small pox, he lost favor among much of the inland indigenous community. He had achieved friendly relations with indigenous people at Sydney Cove, but not Botany Bay. When convicts had trespassed outside the boundaries of settlements, Eora people would throw spears. This provoked many shootings that followed, killing even more indigenous people. Despite Phillip's initial intentions to not harm the indigenous people, soldiers that Phillip brought believed the land should be theirs, which was given to convicts.

Terry Atkinson works for Bunorong Land Council, based in the Port Phillip Bay area and many Melbourne suburbs. The organisation has various plans for cultural heritage and environmental land management, supporting and continuing local indigenous beliefes and traditions. He has advocated in the past for the use of Indigenous names around Melbourne, including coastal areas, and informing the community about who historical figures, including Arthur Phillip, truly were. He also acknowledges that there are more place in Australia named after "savages", including Port Phillip Bay. “This particular issue was raised a few years ago, but since this history isn’t as well known, it wasn’t spoken about much” “Some parts of the world recognise both colonial and indigenous names and culture, I would like to see that too” Atkinson says there are other names in Australian history that more people advocate for change. He only came across Phillip by his own research, and kids should learn far greater indigenous history in school. He said that some are worse than others, but even certain names wont be changed, steps must be taken to acknowledge both sides of history.

Port Phillip City council stated that the history behind the name was “a valid concern". They also said that the City of Port Phillip "values its diverse and multicultural community and encourages tolerance and respect for all, not only the people of the Kulin Nation, but all First Nations people". When asked if staff were aware Arthur Phillip's actions, some were aware this aspect of Australian history, but stated many may not believe it is as significant as other local examples. When asked if there were measures to inform people about who Arthur Phillip was, it was stated that one of their "most important" processes was to "acknowledge and educate people about the history of the land they live on and the history of out major locations" stating that "we really try to do that"

In the ABC's Radio National broadcast on Arthur Phillip, Grace Caskins rhetorically asked "do we call him a good guy or a bad guy?" Whilst not all places around Australia can be renamed rapidly, people should be made aware of the true history. She also stated, "Its more important to explain his situation and context...in the end, it didn't work out"