Massacre at Nankin Creek, Fitzroy River
Following the killing of James and Margaret Foran, George Smelt, John Murray and their Aboriginal servant, Peter Blackboy at Mt Larcom station on 28 December 1855 by a large group of Port Curtis warriors, estimated to number about 50, Lieutenant John Murray led five native troopers, settler William Young, District Constable Horrigon and Aboriginal guide, Harold, in search of the attackers. Murray and his posse attacked them at their camp at Nankin Creek, a tributary of the Fitzroy River. They shot dead 11 warriors and three others were 'severely if not mortally wounded' (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212). In his report of the incident, prepared on 7 November 1856, Murray did not deny that troopers had fired on the Port Curtis people in the lead up to the killings at Mt Larcom station (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Darumbal
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 11
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Darumbal
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 11
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Nankin Creek, Fitzroy River1 Jan 1856 – 10 Jan 1856 — Nankin Creek, Fitzroy River — massacreFollowing the killing of James and Margaret Foran, George Smelt, John Murray and their Aboriginal servant, Peter Blackboy at Mt Larcom station on 28 December 1855 by a large group of Port Curtis warriors, estimated to number about 50, Lieutenant John Murray led five native troopers, settler William Young, District Constable Horrigon and Aboriginal guide, Harold, in search of the attackers. Murray and his posse attacked them at their camp at Nankin Creek, a tributary of the Fitzroy River. They shot dead 11 warriors and three others were 'severely if not mortally wounded' (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212). In his report of the incident, prepared on 7 November 1856, Murray did not deny that troopers had fired on the Port Curtis people in the lead up to the killings at Mt Larcom station (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212).