Massacre at Mt Eccles
In 1857 historian James Bonwick travelled to western Victoria and recorded a story told by two settlers of the region about a massacre at Mt Eccles (also known as Mt Eeles) ten years prior (circa 1847). Gunditjmara people had long used this region as a base for the guerilla resistance and, according to Bonwick, when colonists were finally able to attack in this region around 1847 the people there were 'almost exterminated' (Bonwick, 1970 , p 170).
'The Stony Rises of Eeles could reveal many a tale of rapine and murder.
It was to these pathless solitudes that the Blacks were
accustomed to drive sheep pillaged from the flocks of the early
Settlers. Secure within such stony intricacies, they would break
the legs of the animals to prevent them straying, and thus at their
leisure indulge their love of mutton. Again and again was the trail
followed by indignant shepherds; but the mighty barriers of basalt
reared their crests, piles of boulders rose in all directions, caverns
gaped before one, and the man who ventured into such a realm of
wildness found no small difficulty to escape therefrom, while he
was exposed in his stumbling career to the spear of his concealed
enemy.
Some ten years ago, however, the nest of robbers was gained, and
the tribe almost exterminated under the following circumstances.
A shepherd was murdered, his hut was rifled, and his fleecy charge
was driven off by the Eeles mob. Vengeance was demanded. The
arm of the law was too slow and weak to grasp the
offenders. The neighbours assembled, armed, and set off in pursuit.
Upon the return of the expedition, the coat and pocket book of the
shepherd were exhibited. Resistance was said to have been offered,
and shots were fired. Being interrogated as to the result of the
conflict, as to what natives were killed, the only reply obtained was,
that 'really there was such a smoke that they could see nothing.'
Having, however, heard another tale upon this journey, being in
company with one of the visitors of that region of stones upon that
occasion, I venture to unfold the mystery, or, rather, to give
another version.
The party, who, though few in number, mustered in rifles and
pistols about fifty shots, secured as guide to the Stones a half
civilized native, and were lucky enough to fall upon a stray wild
Blackfellow, who indicated the entrance into the fastnesses, and
the route of the marauders. Camping for the night without fire
within a mile or two of their unsuspecting victims, they resolved
to make an onslaught upon them at the early dawn. Rough
travelling delayed the march, and when they broke cover the
poor creatures were taking their morning meal. Without a word of
warning, the bullets of destruction were poured in among them.
Some fell at the first discharge, others snatched up their children
and tried to fly, and some warriors turned round in desperation
and seized their spears to defend their families. But all resistance
was in vain. The christians were too quick and too formidably
armed for their heathen antagonists. Mothers, husbands, babes lay
about the stones shrieking in maddening pain, moaning in dying
struggle, or still in the sleep of death. More than thirty are said to
have been thus laid low.' (Bonwick, 1970, pp 169-171)
Bonwick's informants also told him that during the massacre one of the Aboriginal guides tried to strike one of the colonists with a waddy but was himself shot, and that the other guide murdered a baby with a rock and finished off some of the dying with a weapon fashioned from a broken pair of shears (Bonwick, 1970, p 171).
[Note: this massacre was previously confused with an incident at Mt Napier in which 2 people were killed after the killing of a shepherd named Edwards, recorded in Augustus Robinson's journal entry of 2 Sep 1847 (Clark 1998f, v6, p 172).]
'The Stony Rises of Eeles could reveal many a tale of rapine and murder.
It was to these pathless solitudes that the Blacks were
accustomed to drive sheep pillaged from the flocks of the early
Settlers. Secure within such stony intricacies, they would break
the legs of the animals to prevent them straying, and thus at their
leisure indulge their love of mutton. Again and again was the trail
followed by indignant shepherds; but the mighty barriers of basalt
reared their crests, piles of boulders rose in all directions, caverns
gaped before one, and the man who ventured into such a realm of
wildness found no small difficulty to escape therefrom, while he
was exposed in his stumbling career to the spear of his concealed
enemy.
Some ten years ago, however, the nest of robbers was gained, and
the tribe almost exterminated under the following circumstances.
A shepherd was murdered, his hut was rifled, and his fleecy charge
was driven off by the Eeles mob. Vengeance was demanded. The
arm of the law was too slow and weak to grasp the
offenders. The neighbours assembled, armed, and set off in pursuit.
Upon the return of the expedition, the coat and pocket book of the
shepherd were exhibited. Resistance was said to have been offered,
and shots were fired. Being interrogated as to the result of the
conflict, as to what natives were killed, the only reply obtained was,
that 'really there was such a smoke that they could see nothing.'
Having, however, heard another tale upon this journey, being in
company with one of the visitors of that region of stones upon that
occasion, I venture to unfold the mystery, or, rather, to give
another version.
The party, who, though few in number, mustered in rifles and
pistols about fifty shots, secured as guide to the Stones a half
civilized native, and were lucky enough to fall upon a stray wild
Blackfellow, who indicated the entrance into the fastnesses, and
the route of the marauders. Camping for the night without fire
within a mile or two of their unsuspecting victims, they resolved
to make an onslaught upon them at the early dawn. Rough
travelling delayed the march, and when they broke cover the
poor creatures were taking their morning meal. Without a word of
warning, the bullets of destruction were poured in among them.
Some fell at the first discharge, others snatched up their children
and tried to fly, and some warriors turned round in desperation
and seized their spears to defend their families. But all resistance
was in vain. The christians were too quick and too formidably
armed for their heathen antagonists. Mothers, husbands, babes lay
about the stones shrieking in maddening pain, moaning in dying
struggle, or still in the sleep of death. More than thirty are said to
have been thus laid low.' (Bonwick, 1970, pp 169-171)
Bonwick's informants also told him that during the massacre one of the Aboriginal guides tried to strike one of the colonists with a waddy but was himself shot, and that the other guide murdered a baby with a rock and finished off some of the dying with a weapon fashioned from a broken pair of shears (Bonwick, 1970, p 171).
[Note: this massacre was previously confused with an incident at Mt Napier in which 2 people were killed after the killing of a shepherd named Edwards, recorded in Augustus Robinson's journal entry of 2 Sep 1847 (Clark 1998f, v6, p 172).]
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Gunditjmara, Wulluwurrung or Djabwurrung or Gai wurrung
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 30
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Gunditjmara, Wulluwurrung or Djabwurrung or Gai wurrung
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 30
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Mt Eccles1 Jul 1847 – 31 Jul 1847 — Mt Eccles — massacreIn 1857 historian James Bonwick travelled to western Victoria and recorded a story told by two settlers of the region about a massacre at Mt Eccles (also known as Mt Eeles) ten years prior (circa 1847). Gunditjmara people had long used this region as a base for the guerilla resistance and, according to Bonwick, when colonists were finally able to attack in this region around 1847 the people there were 'almost exterminated' (Bonwick, 1970 , p 170).
'The Stony Rises of Eeles could reveal many a tale of rapine and murder.
It was to these pathless solitudes that the Blacks were
accustomed to drive sheep pillaged from the flocks of the early
Settlers. Secure within such stony intricacies, they would break
the legs of the animals to prevent them straying, and thus at their
leisure indulge their love of mutton. Again and again was the trail
followed by indignant shepherds; but the mighty barriers of basalt
reared their crests, piles of boulders rose in all directions, caverns
gaped before one, and the man who ventured into such a realm of
wildness found no small difficulty to escape therefrom, while he
was exposed in his stumbling career to the spear of his concealed
enemy.
Some ten years ago, however, the nest of robbers was gained, and
the tribe almost exterminated under the following circumstances.
A shepherd was murdered, his hut was rifled, and his fleecy charge
was driven off by the Eeles mob. Vengeance was demanded. The
arm of the law was too slow and weak to grasp the
offenders. The neighbours assembled, armed, and set off in pursuit.
Upon the return of the expedition, the coat and pocket book of the
shepherd were exhibited. Resistance was said to have been offered,
and shots were fired. Being interrogated as to the result of the
conflict, as to what natives were killed, the only reply obtained was,
that 'really there was such a smoke that they could see nothing.'
Having, however, heard another tale upon this journey, being in
company with one of the visitors of that region of stones upon that
occasion, I venture to unfold the mystery, or, rather, to give
another version.
The party, who, though few in number, mustered in rifles and
pistols about fifty shots, secured as guide to the Stones a half
civilized native, and were lucky enough to fall upon a stray wild
Blackfellow, who indicated the entrance into the fastnesses, and
the route of the marauders. Camping for the night without fire
within a mile or two of their unsuspecting victims, they resolved
to make an onslaught upon them at the early dawn. Rough
travelling delayed the march, and when they broke cover the
poor creatures were taking their morning meal. Without a word of
warning, the bullets of destruction were poured in among them.
Some fell at the first discharge, others snatched up their children
and tried to fly, and some warriors turned round in desperation
and seized their spears to defend their families. But all resistance
was in vain. The christians were too quick and too formidably
armed for their heathen antagonists. Mothers, husbands, babes lay
about the stones shrieking in maddening pain, moaning in dying
struggle, or still in the sleep of death. More than thirty are said to
have been thus laid low.' (Bonwick, 1970, pp 169-171)
Bonwick's informants also told him that during the massacre one of the Aboriginal guides tried to strike one of the colonists with a waddy but was himself shot, and that the other guide murdered a baby with a rock and finished off some of the dying with a weapon fashioned from a broken pair of shears (Bonwick, 1970, p 171).
[Note: this massacre was previously confused with an incident at Mt Napier in which 2 people were killed after the killing of a shepherd named Edwards, recorded in Augustus Robinson's journal entry of 2 Sep 1847 (Clark 1998f, v6, p 172).]