EORA – Bennelong honours one of Australia’s most mythologised and celebrated individuals from the days of first contact: Woollarawarre Bennelong.

The name Bennelong resonates to many; it’s part of the iconography of Australia. But long before the famous Bennelong Point and the Sydney Opera House, there was Bennelong the man. Woollarawarre Bennelong is one of the most mythologised and celebrated individuals from the days of First Contact. He was one of the first Aboriginal men to be taken from his clan and introduced to European ways, the first Aboriginal author, the first to travel to Britain, and one of the first Aboriginal people to have their life story recorded and documented.

Stephen Page and Bangarra’s head of design Jacob Nash dive into history to create an extraordinary art installation. Rare historical portraits are brought to life, unveiling the character of this audacious and intrepid man through overlaid footage of some of Australia’s most exciting contemporary dancers: Beau Dean Riley Smith, Luke Currie-Richardson and Rikki Mason.

This video is part of a series of EORA stories told by Bangarra as part of Vivid Sydney.