This despatch from Governor Macquarie (fifth Governor of the colony of NSW) to Earl Bathurst (Secretary of State for War and the Colonies) reports on three punitive expeditions sent out in April 1816 against Aboriginal people, led by Schaw, Willis and Dawe. 
Macquarie's Proclamation of 4 May 1816 is enclosed and addresses the conflict between Aboriginal people and settlers and its consequences, it prohibits the carriage and use of offensive weapons by Aboriginal people and prohibits customary law punishments. It promises grants of land on certain conditions. Macquarie invites Aboriginal people to attend a Friendly Meeting on 28 December 1816 to discuss the Native Institution.

Despatch from Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst dated 8 June 1816 in Historical Records of Australia, series 1, vol. 9 (January 1816 - December 1818), 139-145

After a period of relative peace, raids and violence on and around the Hawkesbury Nepean River escalated again from 1814. Initially, Governor Macquarie ordered settlers to treat Aboriginal people ‘in every respect as Europeans’. However by 1816, with attacks increasing, Governor Macquarie commenced ‘the largest military campaign the colony had...

Hawkesbury Nepean and surrounds

Following the arrival of the British in 1788, English criminal law was imposed across the colony, although it was initially unclear whether it applied to Aboriginal people. Over time, Aboriginal people were subject to English law overriding and not recognising long-standing Aboriginal legal systems.

Document

Despatch from Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst dated 8 June 1816 in Historical Records of Australia, series 1, vol. 9 (January 1816 - December 1818), 139-145

Hawkesbury Nepean and surrounds

Application of criminal law to Aboriginal people