Rethinking William Thomas, ‘friend’ of the Aborigines

Abstract

In this article I argue that William Thomas, who was appointed to be one of four Assistant Protectors of Aborigines in the Port Phillip Protectorate (1839-1849) has become known as 'friend' of the Aborigines of that colony largely because of having written himself into the historical record in that role. I examine the ways in which interrogations of 'whiteness' offer ways of rethinking Thomas' friendship and suggest a more complex range of attitudes and representations made by him which have contributed to enduring tropes of 'the Aborigine'.