Massacre at Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria

Date: 1 Jan 1918 – 31 Dec 1918
Place: Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
According to Tim Bottoms, 'In 1914 a man named John McKenzie made an unauthorised attempt to settle on Bentinck Island' (Bottoms, 2013: 169). Dibirdibi (Roma Kelly), a Kaiadilt descendant from Bentinck, told linguist Nicholas Evans what her parents told her, which was that 'During his short time on Bentinck Island, McKenzie systematically tried to eliminate the Kaiadilt, riding across the island on horseback, and shooting down everyone but the girls he intended to rape' (Kelly and Evans, 1985, p. 45). From oral sources Norman Tindale compiled a detailed genealogy from which he estimates that in about 1918 eleven people were killed 'by a white raid' (Tindale, 1962b, p 305). Kelly and Evans estimate this to be 'about 10% of the Kaiadilt population' (Kelly and Evans, 1985, p 45). Tindale gives details of McKenzie's time on Bentinck and Sweers Islands in another article (Tindale, 1962a, pp 266-7).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Kaiadilt
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 11

People involved

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Sources

  • Bottoms, 2013, p 169; Kelly & Evans, 1985, pp 44-45; Tindale, 1962a; Tindale, 1962b

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
    1 Jan 1918 – 31 Dec 1918 — Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria — massacre
    According to Tim Bottoms, 'In 1914 a man named John McKenzie made an unauthorised attempt to settle on Bentinck Island' (Bottoms, 2013: 169). Dibirdibi (Roma Kelly), a Kaiadilt descendant from Bentinck, told linguist Nicholas Evans what her parents told her, which was that 'During his short time on Bentinck Island, McKenzie systematically tried to eliminate the Kaiadilt, riding across the island on horseback, and shooting down everyone but the girls he intended to rape' (Kelly and Evans, 1985, p. 45). From oral sources Norman Tindale compiled a detailed genealogy from which he estimates that in about 1918 eleven people were killed 'by a white raid' (Tindale, 1962b, p 305). Kelly and Evans estimate this to be 'about 10% of the Kaiadilt population' (Kelly and Evans, 1985, p 45). Tindale gives details of McKenzie's time on Bentinck and Sweers Islands in another article (Tindale, 1962a, pp 266-7).
    Source: Bottoms, 2013, p 169; Kelly & Evans, 1985, pp 44-45; Tindale, 1962a; Tindale, 1962b