Massacre at Blue Mud Bay

Date: 8 Aug 1875 – 9 Aug 1875
Place: Blue Mud Bay
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
The NTTG reported on 30 October 1875 (p 1), that Tom Walker and his gold prospecting party left Union Camp on 1 June 1875. The Government provided five horses (of 15) and three months' provisions. At 11pm on 17 June, an Aboriginal group surprised the camp and wounded Charles Bridson. On 7 August the party reached Blue Mud Bay and on 9 August, Aboriginal people, who they thought had been friendly, attacked the camp, striking Walker, who died the next day, and David Marshall, who was severely wounded. The attacks were kept up for the ensuing nights, including attempts to burn the camp out. By the time the government cargo vessel Woolner from Port Darwin reached Union Camp at Blue Mud Bay on 21 October with a party of more prospectors, more than 40 Aboriginal people had been killed. Marshall and Bridson recovered. Four government horses were lost. No gold was ever found (Reid, 1990, p 69; NTTG 18 Dec 1875, pp 1-2). Roberts (2009, np) noted the blood lust from the Northern Territory Times and Gazette in response: "Shoot those you cannot get at and hang those that you do catch on the nearest tree as an example to the rest".
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Yolngu
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Blue Mud Bay
    8 Aug 1875 – 9 Aug 1875 — Blue Mud Bay — massacre
    The NTTG reported on 30 October 1875 (p 1), that Tom Walker and his gold prospecting party left Union Camp on 1 June 1875. The Government provided five horses (of 15) and three months' provisions. At 11pm on 17 June, an Aboriginal group surprised the camp and wounded Charles Bridson. On 7 August the party reached Blue Mud Bay and on 9 August, Aboriginal people, who they thought had been friendly, attacked the camp, striking Walker, who died the next day, and David Marshall, who was severely wounded. The attacks were kept up for the ensuing nights, including attempts to burn the camp out. By the time the government cargo vessel Woolner from Port Darwin reached Union Camp at Blue Mud Bay on 21 October with a party of more prospectors, more than 40 Aboriginal people had been killed. Marshall and Bridson recovered. Four government horses were lost. No gold was ever found (Reid, 1990, p 69; NTTG 18 Dec 1875, pp 1-2). Roberts (2009, np) noted the blood lust from the Northern Territory Times and Gazette in response: "Shoot those you cannot get at and hang those that you do catch on the nearest tree as an example to the rest".
    Source: NTTG, 30 October, 1875, p1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3144523; NTTG, 18 December, 1875, p. 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3144651; Reid, 1990; Macknight, 1981; Roberts, 2005, pp 120-121; Roberts, 2009, np.