Simon Wonga

Simon Wonga (* 1824, † 1874 in Coranderrk ) was one of the sons of Billibellary and a Ngurungaeta ( tribal leader ) of the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people who lived in the area of Melbourne of today's state of Victoria in Australia.

In 1840, Simon Wonga seriously injured in hunting at its foot and the Assistant Protector William Thomas and his wife Susannah nursed him for two months. During this time Thomas and Wonga Wonga met and learned from him understand European society. This understanding helped Wonga later in life, when his master wanted to use parts of their traditional lands with permission of the whites. Thomas supported him even in a financial dispute with a landlord.

Simon Wonga was tribal leader of the Wurundjeri in 1851. In February 1859, he went at the age of 35 years with Wurundjeri tribal leaders to William Thomas to obtain land of Taungurong - Aboriginal people at the station at the Acheron River and Goulburn River for the cultivation of food. Wonga said Thomas: " I bring my friends Goulburn Blacks, theywant a block of land in Their country wherethey june sit down plans corn potatoes, etc. etc, and work like white man. " ( German: I 'm with my friends, the Goulburn Blacks, and they want a piece of their land to plant corn, potatoes, etc. and how the whites work ).

The first response of the Government of Victoria to this request was positive, but on the initiative of the land occupier, Hugh Glass, they did not get the desired country, but at the Mohican station which was not suitable for agriculture and they had to leave the place without success.

In March 1963, the Kulin Aboriginal people wanted a traditional Kamp- place at Coranderrk, near Healesville, acquire and asked the owner. Although they got back to their own country, had to pay for it though.

In Melbourne there is a Wonga Park, a suburb, and a Wonga Road.