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Pemulwuy (c. 1750 – c. June 2, 1802) was a Bidjigal warrior of the Dharug Nation, an Aboriginal Australian people from New South Wales.
One of the most famous Aboriginal resistance fighters in the colonial era, he is noted for his resistance to British colonisation, which began with the arrival of the First Fleet in January 1788.
Pemulwuy lived near Botany Bay, known as Kamay in the Dharug language.
He is considered to have been a carradhy (cleverman), a Dharug spiritual healer and culture keeper.
In 1790, Pemulwuy began a twelve-year guerrilla war against the colonists, which continued until his killing and beheading in 1802.
When Pemulwuy grew into manhood, he became Bemul Wagan, which represents “the earth and the crow”. According to Dharug Indigenous activist Uncle Richard Green, “he wasn’t very impressed with the mix of cultures. He preferred that we stayed within our own peoples”.
Another name for him was Butu Wagan, which means “crow“.
