Massacre at Yarramundi, Hawkesbury River

Date: 27 Apr 1805
Place: Yarramundi, Hawkesbury River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
According to the 'Sydney Gazette', 5 May 1805, p.3, on the previous Sunday 28 April 1805, 'several groups [of Aboriginal people] were assaulted near the Mountains, among whom Yaragowhy, Charley and four or five others are said to have fallen.' On page 1 of the same edition of the 'Sydney Gazette', Acting Secretary G Blaxcell stated that Governor King was distributing detachments from the New South Wales Corp in response to murders by the 'natives' among the out-settlements, that settlers were required to assist each other in repelling visits by the natives, and that any settler harbouring a 'native' would be prosecuted. On 12 May 1805, further information about the pursuit and the massacre appeared in the 'Sydney Gazette' and about Yaragowhy in particular, who was well known among the Hawkesbury settlers. According to historian Stephen Gapps the number killed in the massacre 'may have been higher than seven or eight' (Gapps, 2018, p 173).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Bediagal/Dharug
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 7

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Yarramundi, Hawkesbury River
    27 Apr 1805 — Yarramundi, Hawkesbury River — massacre
    According to the 'Sydney Gazette', 5 May 1805, p.3, on the previous Sunday 28 April 1805, 'several groups [of Aboriginal people] were assaulted near the Mountains, among whom Yaragowhy, Charley and four or five others are said to have fallen.' On page 1 of the same edition of the 'Sydney Gazette', Acting Secretary G Blaxcell stated that Governor King was distributing detachments from the New South Wales Corp in response to murders by the 'natives' among the out-settlements, that settlers were required to assist each other in repelling visits by the natives, and that any settler harbouring a 'native' would be prosecuted. On 12 May 1805, further information about the pursuit and the massacre appeared in the 'Sydney Gazette' and about Yaragowhy in particular, who was well known among the Hawkesbury settlers. According to historian Stephen Gapps the number killed in the massacre 'may have been higher than seven or eight' (Gapps, 2018, p 173).
    Source: Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser May 5, 1805 - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/626753/6111 and May 12, 1805 - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6115; Gapps 2018, p 173.