David Unaipon

David Unaipon was a preacher, author and inventor born in 1872 at the Point McLeay Mission in South Australia. His father James was the Congregational mission’s first Aboriginal convert. David attended the mission school from the age of seven, leaving in 1885 when he left to become a servant to a master who fostered his growing curiosity in philosophy, science and music. Upon returning to the mission a few years later he continued to read widely, play the organ and honed the skills required in boot making. He was growing frustrated at the lack of work for educated Aborigines at mission settlements, and in the late 1890s he took a job as storeman for an Adelaide bootmaker. By the early 1900’s, Unaipon had begun inventing and developing a number of practical items. He first designed and patented a handpiece for shearing, at the same time becoming preoccupied with discovering the secret of perpetual motion. Over the next few decades, he made patent applications for numerous other inventions – including a multi-radial wheel and a mechanical propulsion device, but over time the patents lapsed. Unaipon’s fame, sophistication, particular manner of speech and strong Aboriginal identity flew in the face of the stereotypes of the day. His lectures for the Anglican Church stressed improvement and aspiration, and his rhetorical skills were renowned. From the early 1920s he studied Aboriginal mythology and carefully compiled his versions of legends, drawing influence from the classics but also his researches into Egyptology at the South Australian Museum. An important element of his work was speaking in schools on Aboriginal legends and customs, as well as his visions for the future of his people. Unaipon was a highly influential figure in fighting for Aboriginal rights. In the 1920s and 1930s he influenced government policy on the treatment of Aboriginal people. In 1926 he advocated a model Aboriginal state in an attempt to provide a separate territory for Aboriginal people in central and northern Australia. For half a century he travelled south-eastern Australia, giving evidence to various commissions on Aboriginal issues and giving lectures in churches of various denominations. In 1953 he received a coronation medal, and continued to travel on foot preaching until the age of 87. In his 90s he returned to the mission and continued to work on his inventions until his final days. Following his death, the national David Unaipon award for Aboriginal writers was established in 1988, and an annual Unaipon lecture was established in Adelaide. His legacy lives on. The Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame recognises the achievements of David Unaipon.