Massacre at Kilcoy Station
On 1 February 1842, flour laced with strychnine was given to a large group of Aboriginal people at Kilcoy station by two shepherds, resulting in the deaths of at least sixty of them. The shepherds were employed by Evan MacKenzie, lessee of Kilcoy station (SMH, December 5, 1842, p 2).
According to Lauer, two escaped convicts, Bracewell and Davis, who had been living with Aboriginal people before being captured, reported that about 14 or 15 tribes had met at Booroon in the 'Great Bunya Scrub' to discuss a response to the poisoning and had formed a council of war resolving on vengeance. (Lauer, 1977, p 47)
According to Lauer, two escaped convicts, Bracewell and Davis, who had been living with Aboriginal people before being captured, reported that about 14 or 15 tribes had met at Booroon in the 'Great Bunya Scrub' to discuss a response to the poisoning and had formed a council of war resolving on vengeance. (Lauer, 1977, p 47)
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Giggarbarah, Woongunbarah and other groups in transit
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 60
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Giggarbarah, Woongunbarah and other groups in transit
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 60
People involved
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Sources
- Lang, 1847, p 279; Marr, 2023, pp 121-126; Qld Parlt Legislative Assembly, 1861(a), p 19 - Select Ctee in to the Native Police; Queenslander, May 21, 1892, p 987, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19824074; SMH, December 5, 1842 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12426931, Lauer, 1977 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1dac35b
Event mentions
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Massacre at Kilcoy Station1 Feb 1842 — Kilcoy Station — massacreOn 1 February 1842, flour laced with strychnine was given to a large group of Aboriginal people at Kilcoy station by two shepherds, resulting in the deaths of at least sixty of them. The shepherds were employed by Evan MacKenzie, lessee of Kilcoy station (SMH, December 5, 1842, p 2).
According to Lauer, two escaped convicts, Bracewell and Davis, who had been living with Aboriginal people before being captured, reported that about 14 or 15 tribes had met at Booroon in the 'Great Bunya Scrub' to discuss a response to the poisoning and had formed a council of war resolving on vengeance. (Lauer, 1977, p 47)Source: Lang, 1847, p 279; Marr, 2023, pp 121-126; Qld Parlt Legislative Assembly, 1861(a), p 19 - Select Ctee in to the Native Police; Queenslander, May 21, 1892, p 987, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19824074; SMH, December 5, 1842 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12426931, Lauer, 1977 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1dac35b