In 1813, the 46th Regiment was ordered to proceed to the British colony of New South Wales, arriving in the port of
Sydney in February 1814. , killed at Appin Wallis' group of 37 grenadiers and officers scoured the area around
Appin and
Minto and were soon informed that a group of Aborigines were camping near the
Cataract River. In the early morning of 17 April, Wallis led a surprise attack on this camp with "smart firing" resulting in the deaths of at least fourteen Aboriginal people from both gunshot wounds or from falling off the rocky cliffs around the river while fleeing. Most of the dead were old men, women and children. The wanted men,
Cannabaygal and Dunnell were also killed. Wallis took two surviving women and three children prisoner and, following the orders of Governor Macquarie, hung the corpses of Cannabaygal and Dunnell from trees on a hill near Appin to "strike the survivors with greater terror." Cannabaygal's skull was later collected and sent to the
University of Edinburgh where it featured in a book on
phrenology by
Sir George Mackenzie. Wallis then continued to march his troops through to the
Georges River and toward the
Illawarra, with prominent colonist
John Oxley joining him. Wallis split his group into several sections with one led by Lieutenant A.G. Parker capturing an additional number of Aborigines. In all 16 Aboriginal people were captured during the operation, of which four children were sent to the Parramatta Native School and the rest sent to Sydney Gaol. These people were released after a month except for one man who was transported to
Van Diemen's Land. and proceeded to implement civic improvements to change what was a basic coal mining convict camp into a functioning town. Within two years, Wallis had established a
school and presided over the construction of several important buildings such as a hospital and
Christ Church Cathedral. He also oversaw the building of a barracks and a jail, and started major improvements to the harbour by the construction of a causeway from the headland to
Nobbys Island. With cedar logging operations by colonists extending inland from Newcastle along the
Hunter River, areas of land upriver were opened to further colonisation. In 1818, Wallis authorised several experimental farms to be established by well-behaved convicts at a location of open plains. These plains were named Wallis Plains in his honour by Governor Macquarie and this collection of convict farms later evolved into the town of
Maitland. While in command at Newcastle, Wallis came into contact with talented convict artists
Joseph Lycett and
Richard Browne. In addition to Wallis utilising these artists to design the new buildings being constructed in Newcastle, he also encouraged them to paint representations of the land and the Aboriginal people of the region. Under the patronage of Wallis, Lycett in particular produced a series of historically important paintings of Newcastle during its first years of existence and the
Awabakal people. Lycett also seems to have influenced Wallis into acquiring artistic skills, with Wallis starting to produce paintings and sketches from this time. Like Lycett, Wallis completed several significant works depicting the landscape, flora and fauna of the Newcastle area as well as unique portraits of local
Aboriginal Australians such as
Burigon. In late 1818, the remaining soldiers of the 46th Regiment were ordered to redeploy to
India and Wallis was replaced as commandant and magistrate of Newcastle by Major
James Morisset. One of Wallis' last duties at Newcastle was to assist
John Oxley complete his explorations of coastal New South Wales by sending a relief vessel to
Port Stephens where Oxley's group were unable to proceed due to their position and ongoing skirmishes with local Aborigines. Wallis left New South Wales in charge of a mixed group of British forces on board the
Tottenham in February 1819 bound for India. == India ==