Aboriginality and historical consciousness: Bernard O ’Dowd and the creation of an Australian national imaginary Frank Bongiorno If he is not a poet, he has in him the elements of poetry... He has many very good qualities and many very bad ones; and in the contrarieties of his mental constitution there is much to remind us of the peculiarities of the people of our own race. R Brough Smyth, The Aborigines of Victoria (1878) xviii WHILE Senator Keating was discoursing on Wednesday at the Australian Natives' Association1 Conference at Baimsdale, on the advantages of technical education to the Australian natives, an odd figure, garbed in a military uniform, appeared at the door- way of the hall. Though not a member of the association, the visitor was undoubtedly an Australian native. A huge medal, hanging from a string encircling his swarthy neck, set forth that he was of Royal birth, being no other than 'King Bobbie of Bunder- wall.' With many broad and amiable grins, and much scraping and bowing, he advanced into the hall. A great roar of laughter and some cheering greeted his appear- ance, and the president ordered his removal. As, however, he respectfully uncovered his head, and evinced much interest in the proceedings, he was accommodated with a seat, and allowed to listen to the speeches of his white compatriots. Argus, quoted in Steele Rudd's Magazine, November 1905, p. 1009 Here, and here only in an age of iron, The dreamers are proved right; No armies underlie these rolling fields, No lost loves haunt the night, Nor can the farmer, turning with his spade, Bring shard or helm to light. Chris Wallace-Crabbe, 'Terra Australis', in Selected Poems Melbourne (1973) p. 39 1 The Australian Natives Association was a nationalist benefit society established in Melbourne in 1871. Its membership was restricted to (white) men bom in Australia. The term 'native' was frequently used in reference to such men (and women) in order to distinguish them from immigrants.