He was probably born around the year 1790 into the traditional Aboriginal society of the 'Big River' group of people who resided in central Tasmania before British colonisation.

[1] Conflict with the 'Big River' clans began in 1804 when a detachment of soldiers garrisoned at Risdon shot and killed several Aboriginal people while they were conducting a kangaroo hunt close to the newly established settlement.

[2] By 1826 the British pastoral expansion into central Tasmania had seen almost of the all prime land that was utilised by the 'Big River' people for hunting and cultural purposes usurped by the colonists.

[3] It was apparent to Montpelliatta and his people that the invasive, hostile and numerous enemy had little regard for their right to live, which left them little other option than to fight for their survival.

[3] In late 1830, Governor Arthur set in place a strategy that called upon almost all the resources of the colony to create the so-called Black Line, a 300 km front of around 2,000 colonists to sweep the settled districts and capture or kill all the remaining Aboriginal people.

[2] Although they had not been captured, Tongerlongeter was seriously wounded, and the Black Line had forced Montpelliatta to remain in hiding for the first half of 1831, with Aboriginal raids declining significantly.

[1] In August, though, Montpelliatta led a band northward out of the highlands, conducting a series of raids which culminated in the killing of the prominent colonist Bartholomew Thomas and his overseer near Port Sorell.

He employed George Augustus Robinson to organise a "friendly mission" composed of already surrendered Tasmanian Aboriginal people to track down and entice the remaining hold-outs to give up.