Massacre at Mt Barnett and Bedford Downs

Date: 1 Jan 1921 – 30 Nov 1921
Place: Mt Barnett and Bedford Downs
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In 1921, stockman Harry Annear was speared on Bedford Downs station. The reason, an Aboriginal witness called Lightberi stated, was that Annear was raiding camps and stealing young women (SROWA, Cons 430 file 7871/1921). 'The police responded when Police Constable Cooney, a "volunteer" Jack Wilson and five native assistants, proceeded to shoot and terrorise Aboriginal people at Mt Barnett to such as extent that they sought sanctuary in the Forrest River mission. This episode prompted missionary Ernest Gribble to write the first of many letters to Chief Protector of Aborigines A.O. Neville, alerting authorities to what was happening' (Owen, 2016, p 439). Gribble wrote: 'the native trackers [pursuing Annear's killers]��� after making themselves friendly to a large camp of natives, had suddenly shot them all in a ravine difficult to escape from. They further state no white police were there only "police boys" [Native Assistants] (SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Kitja, Worla
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10

People involved

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Sources

  • WAPD, 'Gribble to Chief Protector of Aborigines', SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921; See also Department of the North West, 'From Rev. Gribble: Re alleged shooting of natives by Police boys, "Quartpot" and "Long Billy", near Durack River', SROWA, Cons. 653, File 655/1922; WAPD, 'Statement by Lightberi Alias Kitty', SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921; Green, 1995, p 75; Owen, 2016, p 439.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Mt Barnett and Bedford Downs
    1 Jan 1921 – 30 Nov 1921 — Mt Barnett and Bedford Downs — massacre
    In 1921, stockman Harry Annear was speared on Bedford Downs station. The reason, an Aboriginal witness called Lightberi stated, was that Annear was raiding camps and stealing young women (SROWA, Cons 430 file 7871/1921). 'The police responded when Police Constable Cooney, a "volunteer" Jack Wilson and five native assistants, proceeded to shoot and terrorise Aboriginal people at Mt Barnett to such as extent that they sought sanctuary in the Forrest River mission. This episode prompted missionary Ernest Gribble to write the first of many letters to Chief Protector of Aborigines A.O. Neville, alerting authorities to what was happening' (Owen, 2016, p 439). Gribble wrote: 'the native trackers [pursuing Annear's killers]��� after making themselves friendly to a large camp of natives, had suddenly shot them all in a ravine difficult to escape from. They further state no white police were there only "police boys" [Native Assistants] (SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921).
    Source: WAPD, 'Gribble to Chief Protector of Aborigines', SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921; See also Department of the North West, 'From Rev. Gribble: Re alleged shooting of natives by Police boys, "Quartpot" and "Long Billy", near Durack River', SROWA, Cons. 653, File 655/1922; WAPD, 'Statement by Lightberi Alias Kitty', SROWA, Cons. 430, File 7871/1921; Green, 1995, p 75; Owen, 2016, p 439.