Unaipon, David (1872-1967), was an Australian Aboriginal preacher, author, and inventor. His intellectual abilities challenged prejudices at the time about Indigenous peoples. Due to his wide range of talents, Unaipon was known as the Australian Leonardo da Vinci. 
David Ngunaitponi was born on Sept. 28, 1872, at a Christian mission in the Coorang region of South Australia. His father, James Ngunaitponi, was a member of the Ngarrindjeri peoples and the mission’s first Aboriginal convert. Unaipon is an Anglicized (English) version of the family’s Indigenous name. David Unaipon received his early education at the mission and was a noted musical prodigy. He left the mission at 13 years old to work as a servant in Adelaide. With the encouragement of his employer, Unaipon studied literature, mechanics, philosophy, and science.
In 1909, Unaipon patented his first invention, a modified tool for shearing sheep. Despite widespread use of his invention, he received little money or credit for his idea. He worked as a shoemaker and bookkeeper to support his family but continued to develop scientific designs and theories. In the early 1910’s, Unaipon became famous when Australian newspapers began publishing interviews with him alongside details of his life and inventions.
Unaipon became a subscription collector for the Aborigines’ Friends’ Association in 1913. This position allowed him to travel around southeast Australia, preaching and acting as a liaison (link) between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures. He also demonstrated his scientific ideas, which included designs for a helicopter and a perpetual motion machine. By 1944, Unaipon had patented nine additional inventions.
In the early 1920’s, Unaipon began studying and recording Aboriginal mythology. He wrote his first book, Hungarrda (1927), on the subject, becoming one of the first published Australian Aboriginal authors. His next two works on Indigenous legends were Kinie Ger—The Native Cat (1928) and Native Legends (1929). In 1930, more of Unaipon’s retold legends were published as Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals, but this book was not properly credited to him until 2006.
By the 1930’s, Unaipon was the best-known Aboriginal Australian in the world. Noted for his unusual mannerisms—Unaipon dressed and spoke in a formal English style—he was treated as a spokesperson for Aboriginal peoples. He used his intelligence and knowledge of English culture to push back against stereotypes attributed to Indigenous peoples. Unaipon spoke out for the protection and rights of Indigenous peoples and regularly assisted the Australian government with investigations on Aboriginal welfare.
Unaipon wrote two autobiographical texts: My Life Story (1951) and Leaves of Memory (1953). He was awarded a Coronation Medal by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. He continued preaching and public speaking until his retirement at age 87. He died on Feb. 7, 1967. Unaipon and his sheep-shearing invention were featured on the 1995 redesign of the Australian $50 note.
