Massacre at Mount Coliseum, QLD

Date: 1 Dec 1872 – 31 Dec 1872
Place: Mount Coliseum, QLD
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Following the capture of alleged Aboriginal outlaw 'Spider' at Miriam Vale station, near Gladstone, by Sergeant Ware and a detachment of native police placed at his disposal by the Colonial Secretary, they were joined by another detachment led by Acting Sub-Inspector Alexander Douglas. They massacred a family of 12 Goreng Goreng camped at Mt Coliseum. One of the survivors was a little boy who was born on Miriam Vale station in 1868. Following the massacre, there was an outcry from the owners of Miriam Vale station who claimed that a 'massacre of the innocents' had taken place, and an inquiry was held by police magistrate CW Rich at the Prospect Hotel at Calliope on 17 February 1873. Douglas claimed that there were several 'scoundrels' killed in the massacre. According to the Brisbane Courier, Douglas's visit to the area had 'done a lot of good' (Brisbane Courier, March 1, 1873, p 5).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Goreng Goreng
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 12

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Mount Coliseum, QLD
    1 Dec 1872 – 31 Dec 1872 — Mount Coliseum, QLD — massacre
    Following the capture of alleged Aboriginal outlaw 'Spider' at Miriam Vale station, near Gladstone, by Sergeant Ware and a detachment of native police placed at his disposal by the Colonial Secretary, they were joined by another detachment led by Acting Sub-Inspector Alexander Douglas. They massacred a family of 12 Goreng Goreng camped at Mt Coliseum. One of the survivors was a little boy who was born on Miriam Vale station in 1868. Following the massacre, there was an outcry from the owners of Miriam Vale station who claimed that a 'massacre of the innocents' had taken place, and an inquiry was held by police magistrate CW Rich at the Prospect Hotel at Calliope on 17 February 1873. Douglas claimed that there were several 'scoundrels' killed in the massacre. According to the Brisbane Courier, Douglas's visit to the area had 'done a lot of good' (Brisbane Courier, March 1, 1873, p 5).
    Source: Brisbane Courier, March 1, 1873, p 5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1310436; 'Bob', pers. comm, 13 March 2020.