B
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
Australian Aboriginal leader
Gender:
Male
Places:
Is:
Work field:
Death:
14 April 1846
The details
Biography
Biraban (died 14 April 1846), also known as John McGill (also spelt M'Gill, MacGil, Maggill), was a leader of the Awabakal people of Indigenous Australians at Lake Macquarie. His native name, also spelt Barabahn, Bi-ra-bán, and Birabān, means "eaglehawk" in the Awabakal language.
Biraban spoke English fluently, and acted as an interpreter between Aborigines and settlers. From 1825 he served as an informant to the missionary Lancelot Edward Threlkeld teaching him the Awabakal language and tribal lore.
The Biraban Public School was named after him in recognition of where he used to live.