Massacre at Bluff Rock, New England Pastoral District

Date: 17 Oct 1844
Place: Bluff Rock, New England Pastoral District
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In daylight on 17 October 1844, Edward Irby and Thomas Windeyer and the latter's two servants Connor and Weaver, chased and then lost and then came upon, more by chance than by skill, a group of Bundjalung or Ngarabal (Marbal or Ngarbal speakers?) sheltering beneath the very rocks Irby and Windeyer found themselves upon. Irby and Windeyer lay on the rocks and began firing at the people below, knowing that their fire would bring up Connor and Weaver who joined the slaughter (Irby cited in Walker, 1996, p30). The massacre was in reprisal for the Aboriginal killing of a shepherd named Robinson, employee of Irby Brothers, lessees of Bolivia station (Schlunke 2005 pp 59-60).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Bundjalung, Marbal or Ngarbal
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Bluff Rock, New England Pastoral District
    17 Oct 1844 — Bluff Rock, New England Pastoral District — massacre
    In daylight on 17 October 1844, Edward Irby and Thomas Windeyer and the latter's two servants Connor and Weaver, chased and then lost and then came upon, more by chance than by skill, a group of Bundjalung or Ngarabal (Marbal or Ngarbal speakers?) sheltering beneath the very rocks Irby and Windeyer found themselves upon. Irby and Windeyer lay on the rocks and began firing at the people below, knowing that their fire would bring up Connor and Weaver who joined the slaughter (Irby cited in Walker, 1996, p30). The massacre was in reprisal for the Aboriginal killing of a shepherd named Robinson, employee of Irby Brothers, lessees of Bolivia station (Schlunke 2005 pp 59-60).
    Source: Irby 1908, p 77-80, 88-90, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2604939357/view?partId=nla.obj-2604971617#page/n76/mode/1up; Schlunke 2005, pp 59-60; Walker, 1966, p 30.