Betty THOMAS

Betty Thomas was a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman taken to Kangaroo Island in the 1820s.

She became the companion to Nathaniel Thomas who arrived in 1827 and lived in the Antechamber Bay area.

They had 3 children, Mary, Hannah and Sam.

Mary and Hannah have living descendants, Sam was drowned when he was around 16.

Early settlers in this area included Nat. Thomas who,

with his Tasmanian Aboriginal wife Betty, arrived on

Kangaroo Island in 1827 and farmed the area at the

eastern end of Antechamber Bay until 1878.

This couple had three children, a son and 2 daughters.

The elder daughter, Mary, born in May 1833, was the

first documented child of a European born in

South Australia

While not always well treated, the Aboriginal

companions of the pre 1836 settlers made a

significant contribution to the early develeopment

of the island. Several were brought from Tasmania

and others mainly from nearby Fleurieu Peninsula.

Betty died in 1878, and while the actual site of her

grave is unknown it is believed to be ihis vicinity.

Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association Inc.

Department of State Aboriginal Affairs