Massacre at Yandilla station, Darling Downs Pastoral District

Date: 1 Oct 1842 – 31 Dec 1842
Place: Yandilla station, Darling Downs Pastoral District
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
According to historian Maurice French, in late 1842, squatter Sydenham Russell, and stockmen Ralph Gore and Domville Taylor 'surprised a large group of natives coolly rounding up a mob of cattle in broad daylight between Yandilla and Tummaville.' (French, 1989, pp 102-103) According to historian HS Russell, 'The blacks had been more aggressive of late than ever. They were harrying and killing cattle wherever cattle were. The shepherds were in a terrible state of "funk," and no wonder. My brother had caught them, when crossing the plain between Yandilla and Tummavil in company with Ralph Gore and Taylor, coolly rounding a mob up in the open, and preparing to kill. A "set-to" was the consequence. The blacks numbered about three hundred, and kept admirable order and showed unusual courage. Upon the firing of a shot, the "ducking" of heads and rush on their assailants were instantaneous, well arranged, and executed. Syd.'s horse was fidgetty; so he jumped off and let him loose. The "brummagem" double barrelled gun which he had���mine, however���burst in his hands without doing damage; and it must have been quite half-an-hour before the mob, which showed a steady line throughout, had retreated, step by step, to the timber which skirted the western edge of the plain, and only then turned tail.' (Russell, 1888, p 328).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Bigambul?
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Yandilla station, Darling Downs Pastoral District
    1 Oct 1842 – 31 Dec 1842 — Yandilla station, Darling Downs Pastoral District — massacre
    According to historian Maurice French, in late 1842, squatter Sydenham Russell, and stockmen Ralph Gore and Domville Taylor 'surprised a large group of natives coolly rounding up a mob of cattle in broad daylight between Yandilla and Tummaville.' (French, 1989, pp 102-103) According to historian HS Russell, 'The blacks had been more aggressive of late than ever. They were harrying and killing cattle wherever cattle were. The shepherds were in a terrible state of "funk," and no wonder. My brother had caught them, when crossing the plain between Yandilla and Tummavil in company with Ralph Gore and Taylor, coolly rounding a mob up in the open, and preparing to kill. A "set-to" was the consequence. The blacks numbered about three hundred, and kept admirable order and showed unusual courage. Upon the firing of a shot, the "ducking" of heads and rush on their assailants were instantaneous, well arranged, and executed. Syd.'s horse was fidgetty; so he jumped off and let him loose. The "brummagem" double barrelled gun which he had���mine, however���burst in his hands without doing damage; and it must have been quite half-an-hour before the mob, which showed a steady line throughout, had retreated, step by step, to the timber which skirted the western edge of the plain, and only then turned tail.' (Russell, 1888, p 328).
    Source: French, 1989, pp 102-103; Russell, 1888, p 328 and 348 https://www.textqueensland.com.au/item/book/b86c5755be236c74a8fc29e7ae220cb6.