Massacre at Caramut Station

Date: 24 Feb 1842
Place: Caramut Station
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
'Caramut Station had been occupied by Thomas Osbrey and Sidney Smith in November 1841' (Clark, 1995, p 35). On the evening of 24 February 1842, settlers Arthur D Boursiquot, and Robert Whitehead and employees John Beswicke, Joseph Betts, Richard Hill and Charles Smith, shot and killed six people from two Aboriginal families asleep 'in a clump of tea-tree beside a small tributary of Mustons Creek.' Two survivors who sought refuge at the Mt Rouse Aboriginal station, 25 kilometres from Osbrey's station reported the horrible event to Assistant Protector Charles Sievewright who immediately rode to Caramut station 'where he found the bodies of three women, (one who was pregnant), and a male child, and a fourth woman severely wounded' who subsequently died. After examining the bodies Sievewright allowed Pinchingannock to cremate the bodies. No one at Caramut would speak about the massacre, even though Sievewright offered 50 pounds reward for information and Governor Gipps quickly followed up with 100 pounds reward. On 15 May 1843, Christopher McGuinness a witness to the massacre went to Melbourne and told the whole story to Chief Protector of the Aborigines, GA Robinson. The perpetrators were arrested and charged and brought to trial but escaped conviction (Clark, 1995, pp 35-42). Historian Michael Christie (1979, p 50) believes the massacre was premeditated, and carried out to relieve the boredom of a summer evening.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Gai wurrung or Djabwurrung
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

People involved

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Sources

  • Clark, ID, 1995, pp 35-42; Clark, 1998c, p 171 (Robinson Journal, 12 May 1843); Christie, 1979, p 50. See also: BPP 1844, p 234; Thomas Papers, ML Item 21; Robinson Papers, vol. 57, p 46, ms ML A 7078; Critchett, 1990, pp 118-119 and 250; Port Phillip Gazette, August 2, 1843 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225011583.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Caramut Station
    24 Feb 1842 — Caramut Station — massacre
    'Caramut Station had been occupied by Thomas Osbrey and Sidney Smith in November 1841' (Clark, 1995, p 35). On the evening of 24 February 1842, settlers Arthur D Boursiquot, and Robert Whitehead and employees John Beswicke, Joseph Betts, Richard Hill and Charles Smith, shot and killed six people from two Aboriginal families asleep 'in a clump of tea-tree beside a small tributary of Mustons Creek.' Two survivors who sought refuge at the Mt Rouse Aboriginal station, 25 kilometres from Osbrey's station reported the horrible event to Assistant Protector Charles Sievewright who immediately rode to Caramut station 'where he found the bodies of three women, (one who was pregnant), and a male child, and a fourth woman severely wounded' who subsequently died. After examining the bodies Sievewright allowed Pinchingannock to cremate the bodies. No one at Caramut would speak about the massacre, even though Sievewright offered 50 pounds reward for information and Governor Gipps quickly followed up with 100 pounds reward. On 15 May 1843, Christopher McGuinness a witness to the massacre went to Melbourne and told the whole story to Chief Protector of the Aborigines, GA Robinson. The perpetrators were arrested and charged and brought to trial but escaped conviction (Clark, 1995, pp 35-42). Historian Michael Christie (1979, p 50) believes the massacre was premeditated, and carried out to relieve the boredom of a summer evening.
    Source: Clark, ID, 1995, pp 35-42; Clark, 1998c, p 171 (Robinson Journal, 12 May 1843); Christie, 1979, p 50. See also: BPP 1844, p 234; Thomas Papers, ML Item 21; Robinson Papers, vol. 57, p 46, ms ML A 7078; Critchett, 1990, pp 118-119 and 250; Port Phillip Gazette, August 2, 1843 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225011583.