Massacre at Eumeralla

Date: 7 Aug 1842 – 18 Aug 1842
Place: Eumeralla
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
On August 18, 1842 at Eumerella Station, Port Fairy, Western District, after 2 raids by more than 150 Aboriginal people a party of Colonists found and attacked the raiding party. '...on the 7th ultimo [August] a party of blacks, headed by Jupiter [Tarerer] and Cocknose [Tykoohe]...attacked my shepherd and drove off a flock of sheep...my superintendent and several of the men...went in pursuit of the marauders, and after a severe skirmish succeeded in recovering the property. On the 10th, the shepherds were again attacked by upwards of 150 blacks... a part of the blacks took possession of the sheep and the remainder attacked the shepherds, who were in a position of great danger, but being well armed, they were...able to keep their assailants at bay until assistance arrived, when the blacks made off, and the men obtained repossession of the sheep. On the 18th the blacks again attacked the shepherds...and drove off 1,014 sheep...a party went out to recover the sheep, and they described the road as strewed with dead carcases [sic]. About eight miles [20 kms] off the station they came up with the blacks, and it was not until they had overcome a vigorous resistance, during which three of the blacks were shot, and several others wounded, that they succeeded in recovering the remainder of the sheep, 511 having been killed or destroyed.' (BPP 1844, p 234; Hunter cited in Critchett, 1990, p 108). Carried out by employees of James Hunter. Historian Jan Critchett considers that on this occasion several Aboriginal people were wounded and later died (Critchett, 1990, p 250).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Tatungalung
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

People involved

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Sources

  • BPP 1844, p 234; Critchett, 1990, pp 107-108 and 250.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Eumeralla
    7 Aug 1842 – 18 Aug 1842 — Eumeralla — massacre
    On August 18, 1842 at Eumerella Station, Port Fairy, Western District, after 2 raids by more than 150 Aboriginal people a party of Colonists found and attacked the raiding party. '...on the 7th ultimo [August] a party of blacks, headed by Jupiter [Tarerer] and Cocknose [Tykoohe]...attacked my shepherd and drove off a flock of sheep...my superintendent and several of the men...went in pursuit of the marauders, and after a severe skirmish succeeded in recovering the property. On the 10th, the shepherds were again attacked by upwards of 150 blacks... a part of the blacks took possession of the sheep and the remainder attacked the shepherds, who were in a position of great danger, but being well armed, they were...able to keep their assailants at bay until assistance arrived, when the blacks made off, and the men obtained repossession of the sheep. On the 18th the blacks again attacked the shepherds...and drove off 1,014 sheep...a party went out to recover the sheep, and they described the road as strewed with dead carcases [sic]. About eight miles [20 kms] off the station they came up with the blacks, and it was not until they had overcome a vigorous resistance, during which three of the blacks were shot, and several others wounded, that they succeeded in recovering the remainder of the sheep, 511 having been killed or destroyed.' (BPP 1844, p 234; Hunter cited in Critchett, 1990, p 108). Carried out by employees of James Hunter. Historian Jan Critchett considers that on this occasion several Aboriginal people were wounded and later died (Critchett, 1990, p 250).
    Source: BPP 1844, p 234; Critchett, 1990, pp 107-108 and 250.