Massacre at Wootong Vale

Date: 1 Jan 1840 – 31 Dec 1840
Place: Wootong Vale
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In a published talk presented in 1964 or 1965 historian E.R. Trangmar distinguished 5 massacres in Western Victoria. One of them is a brief mention of a poisoning with arsenic at Wooton Vale: 'Another case of murder occurred at Wootong Vale. The blacks asked for flour; they were given it but it was poisoned with arsenic. Seventeen died there.' (Trangmar, 1964, p 5) Though he doesn't cite the specific source for his statements, his list of sources for the presentation includes 8 published books, 5 diaries, and local residents descended from early colonists (Trangmar, 1964, p 1). He provides no date, so the year 1840 is estimated from it's being mentioned along with, and being close to, other massacres that occurred in 1840.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Wulluwurrung or Nundadjali
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 17

People involved

This data has not yet been gathered. Research work is ongoing. To help, please consider donating or contact us to volunteer or about setting up research projects in your area.

Sources

  • Trangmar, 1964, p 1, 5.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Wootong Vale
    1 Jan 1840 – 31 Dec 1840 — Wootong Vale — massacre
    In a published talk presented in 1964 or 1965 historian E.R. Trangmar distinguished 5 massacres in Western Victoria. One of them is a brief mention of a poisoning with arsenic at Wooton Vale: 'Another case of murder occurred at Wootong Vale. The blacks asked for flour; they were given it but it was poisoned with arsenic. Seventeen died there.' (Trangmar, 1964, p 5) Though he doesn't cite the specific source for his statements, his list of sources for the presentation includes 8 published books, 5 diaries, and local residents descended from early colonists (Trangmar, 1964, p 1). He provides no date, so the year 1840 is estimated from it's being mentioned along with, and being close to, other massacres that occurred in 1840.
    Source: Trangmar, 1964, p 1, 5.