Massacre at Dourallie Creek, Upper Macleay River Valley

Date: 1 Oct 1846 – 10 Oct 1846
Place: Dourallie Creek, Upper Macleay River Valley
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
On October 20, 1846, p2, the 'Sydney Morning Herald' reported: 'Accounts have been received of a great number of cattle having been speared by the blacks, at the head of the McLeay river, and at the Manning. The greatest sufferers are Messrs P. and H. Mackay in the McLeay.' Geoffrey Blomfield (1981, p 46-7), reports 'a punitive expedition led by two graziers opened fire on [Aboriginal] people swimming in [a] waterhole at the junction of [the Macleay river and Durallie Creek]. Some tried to escape by scrambling up the opposite cliff face but were "brought back with lead"'. Blomfield considers that ' [a]bout 60 men, women and children were swimming in the creek where they were all shot.' Details of the massacre were given to Blomfield by Aboriginal Elder Victor Shepherd (Blomfield, 1981, pp 46-7). For sixty people to have been shot, the punitive expedition would have to have comprised at least six well-armed horsemen.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Dhanggati
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 60

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Dourallie Creek, Upper Macleay River Valley
    1 Oct 1846 – 10 Oct 1846 — Dourallie Creek, Upper Macleay River Valley — massacre
    On October 20, 1846, p2, the 'Sydney Morning Herald' reported: 'Accounts have been received of a great number of cattle having been speared by the blacks, at the head of the McLeay river, and at the Manning. The greatest sufferers are Messrs P. and H. Mackay in the McLeay.' Geoffrey Blomfield (1981, p 46-7), reports 'a punitive expedition led by two graziers opened fire on [Aboriginal] people swimming in [a] waterhole at the junction of [the Macleay river and Durallie Creek]. Some tried to escape by scrambling up the opposite cliff face but were "brought back with lead"'. Blomfield considers that ' [a]bout 60 men, women and children were swimming in the creek where they were all shot.' Details of the massacre were given to Blomfield by Aboriginal Elder Victor Shepherd (Blomfield, 1981, pp 46-7). For sixty people to have been shot, the punitive expedition would have to have comprised at least six well-armed horsemen.
    Source: SMH October 20, 1846, p 2 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12901989; Blomfield 1981, pp 46-7.