MOOWATTIN, DANIEL (c.1791-1816), Aboriginal guide, was born in the Parramatta district, New South Wales, and adopted as an infant by Richard Partridge, alias 'Rice', the colony's notorious hangman. Rev. Samuel Marsden, described Daniel as 'a very fine youth'. Moowattin, meaning 'bush path', was probably a name received in initiation. Aged about 14, he became a helper for George Caley, the botanist employed by Sir Joseph Banks. Daniel was Caley's interpreter, bush guide, plant- and leaf-getter, bird-trapper, servant and companion on botanizing expeditions around Sydney. He lived in Caley's cottage near Government House, Parramatta. Caley marked eucalyptus leaves, gumnuts and flowers as 'got by Dan'.

In 1805 Daniel sailed with Caley to Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land. Back in Sydney in 1807, while searching for a koala south-west of the settlement, Daniel found a high waterfall which Caley named and sketched as the 'Cataract of ...

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Source:

Australian Dictionary of Biography