Lancelot Threlkeld, circa 1815
Lancelot Threlkeld: advocate for justice
Of all the characters I've read about from Newcastle's early colonial history, one of the most interesting is the remarkable missionary, Lancelot Threlkeld. Lancelot Threlkeld wanted to be a stage actor, but he became a missionary instead. This remarkable character established the first mission to Australian Aboriginals, at Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, in 1825. And although the mission itself can scarcely be rated as having been a success, it enabled Threlkeld to leave a precious legacy to future generations. Threlkeld set out to learn the language of the people he planned to preach to and convert…
