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He adopted European dress and sailed to England alongside Governor Arthur Phillip, becoming immortalised in school history books. The land that is now the site of the Sydney Opera House -- Bennelong Point -- was named after him.
Also known as Wolarwaree, Ogultroyee and Vogeltroya, mystery has surrounded his final resting place for almost two centuries.
But the Sun-Herald newspaper said one of Australia's leading environmental scientists, Peter Mitchell, had now gathered archival evidence to pinpoint the grave.
While it was known that he was buried on the banks of the Parramatta River, the exact spot was not known.
"We knew Bennelong was buried in the area but it's always been an urban legend in terms of where," a Parramatta Council official told the newspaper.
"Dr Mitchell quietly chipped away on the project for some time and following some extraordinary research, he was able to add some general certainty to the grave's location.
"From there, council's surveyors advanced his findings to where it now stands today. They've pinpointed the grave, to within the nearest metre, in someone's front garden."
The council is now meeting with Aboriginal authorities to discuss the next step, the report said.
While Bennelong adapted to the European way of life, teaching the colonisers about Aboriginal customs and language and learning to speak English, he ultimately became an alcoholic and died in 1813, aged 49.
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Also known as Wolarwaree, Ogultroyee and Vogeltroya, mystery has surrounded his final resting place for almost two centuries.
But the Sun-Herald newspaper said one of Australia's leading environmental scientists, Peter Mitchell, had now gathered archival evidence to pinpoint the grave.
While it was known that he was buried on the banks of the Parramatta River, the exact spot was not known.
"We knew Bennelong was buried in the area but it's always been an urban legend in terms of where," a Parramatta Council official told the newspaper.
"Dr Mitchell quietly chipped away on the project for some time and following some extraordinary research, he was able to add some general certainty to the grave's location.
"From there, council's surveyors advanced his findings to where it now stands today. They've pinpointed the grave, to within the nearest metre, in someone's front garden."
The council is now meeting with Aboriginal authorities to discuss the next step, the report said.
While Bennelong adapted to the European way of life, teaching the colonisers about Aboriginal customs and language and learning to speak English, he ultimately became an alcoholic and died in 1813, aged 49.
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