Massacre at Mount Foster, Wellington Pastoral District
A letter from Mr W.H. Wright to Colonial Secretary Thomson, 15th January, 1846 describes a large gathering of 150 to 200 men with women and children, from lands between the Macquarie, Darling and Lachlan Rivers (Wailwan, Wongaibon and Wiradjuri people). Following this gathering a war party of 40 warriors raided 5 stations, using Maliyanga Ngurra as a defensive position (Macquarie Marshes) until Native Police and local colonists pursued them and shot 10.
W.H. Wright wrote,
'These generally known as "Myall" or wild Blacks are joined at certain periods by large parties of Aborigines frequenting the country westward of the settled portions as far as the Darling River, when as many as one hundred and fifty or two hundred men are sometimes assembled besides Women and Children...
I regret to have to report that during the past Year the "Myall" Tribes or those of the unsettled portions of the District have committed many outrages on the persons and property of the Settlers on the Macquarie River, and have evinced a boldness and determination which I believe to have been unprecedented amonst Aborigines.
...
From the time (Octr., 1844) that the Gerawhey Blacks drove
Mr. Kinghorne's Superintendent and men from his Station in the
flood which then covered the Country, Aborigines of that Tribe
have been constantly threatening and actually committing depredations
on the Settlers, and Warrants for the apprehension of eight
individuals of that Tribe were issued. But, although fully aware
of the fact and its intention, from the secure retreat they possessed
among the Macquarie Marshes and being generally informed of
the approach of any policemen, they only become bolder, and, in
September last, had assembled to the number of about forty men
at a Station near Mount Foster, which they had stated their
determination to plunder as soon as the dray which had brought the
Supplies and its attendants should return.
At this juncture, a party of Mounted Police under Sergeant
Anderson who had information of their intention came upon them;
and, as most of the individuals named in the Warrants (which he
held) were identified amongst the Tribe, he endeavoured to capture
them, but being attacked and one of his party wounded he
was compelled to fire. It is to be lamented that as many as ten
Natives were shot in this encounter with the Police. At the same
time I am convinced that, but for the appearance of the Police at
this time and the Check given to the Aborigines, they would have
pillaged many of the lower Stations and in all probability have
murdered some of the Inhabitants.
Immediately before this a body of Blacks assembled from the Bogan,
Lachlan, and country between the McQuarie and Darling Rivers, and among
them I regret to say several of the Aborigines looked upon as domesticated,
in all one hundred and fifty or two hundred men.
On the 19th August, they came on the Macquarie. and during
that and the following day plundered five Stations.
They were pursued by two of the Bligh District Border Police
and a party of Settlers, who, after an obstinate resistance by the
Natives, two of whom were shot, recovered some of the stolen
property' (HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10).
W.H. Wright wrote,
'These generally known as "Myall" or wild Blacks are joined at certain periods by large parties of Aborigines frequenting the country westward of the settled portions as far as the Darling River, when as many as one hundred and fifty or two hundred men are sometimes assembled besides Women and Children...
I regret to have to report that during the past Year the "Myall" Tribes or those of the unsettled portions of the District have committed many outrages on the persons and property of the Settlers on the Macquarie River, and have evinced a boldness and determination which I believe to have been unprecedented amonst Aborigines.
...
From the time (Octr., 1844) that the Gerawhey Blacks drove
Mr. Kinghorne's Superintendent and men from his Station in the
flood which then covered the Country, Aborigines of that Tribe
have been constantly threatening and actually committing depredations
on the Settlers, and Warrants for the apprehension of eight
individuals of that Tribe were issued. But, although fully aware
of the fact and its intention, from the secure retreat they possessed
among the Macquarie Marshes and being generally informed of
the approach of any policemen, they only become bolder, and, in
September last, had assembled to the number of about forty men
at a Station near Mount Foster, which they had stated their
determination to plunder as soon as the dray which had brought the
Supplies and its attendants should return.
At this juncture, a party of Mounted Police under Sergeant
Anderson who had information of their intention came upon them;
and, as most of the individuals named in the Warrants (which he
held) were identified amongst the Tribe, he endeavoured to capture
them, but being attacked and one of his party wounded he
was compelled to fire. It is to be lamented that as many as ten
Natives were shot in this encounter with the Police. At the same
time I am convinced that, but for the appearance of the Police at
this time and the Check given to the Aborigines, they would have
pillaged many of the lower Stations and in all probability have
murdered some of the Inhabitants.
Immediately before this a body of Blacks assembled from the Bogan,
Lachlan, and country between the McQuarie and Darling Rivers, and among
them I regret to say several of the Aborigines looked upon as domesticated,
in all one hundred and fifty or two hundred men.
On the 19th August, they came on the Macquarie. and during
that and the following day plundered five Stations.
They were pursued by two of the Bligh District Border Police
and a party of Settlers, who, after an obstinate resistance by the
Natives, two of whom were shot, recovered some of the stolen
property' (HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10
CorroborationRating: **
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10
People involved
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Sources
- HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10 https://doi.org/10.26181/22300306.v1
Event mentions
-
Massacre at Mount Foster, Wellington Pastoral District1 Sep 1845 – 30 Sep 1845 — Mount Foster, Wellington Pastoral District — massacreA letter from Mr W.H. Wright to Colonial Secretary Thomson, 15th January, 1846 describes a large gathering of 150 to 200 men with women and children, from lands between the Macquarie, Darling and Lachlan Rivers (Wailwan, Wongaibon and Wiradjuri people). Following this gathering a war party of 40 warriors raided 5 stations, using Maliyanga Ngurra as a defensive position (Macquarie Marshes) until Native Police and local colonists pursued them and shot 10.
W.H. Wright wrote,
'These generally known as "Myall" or wild Blacks are joined at certain periods by large parties of Aborigines frequenting the country westward of the settled portions as far as the Darling River, when as many as one hundred and fifty or two hundred men are sometimes assembled besides Women and Children...
I regret to have to report that during the past Year the "Myall" Tribes or those of the unsettled portions of the District have committed many outrages on the persons and property of the Settlers on the Macquarie River, and have evinced a boldness and determination which I believe to have been unprecedented amonst Aborigines.
...
From the time (Octr., 1844) that the Gerawhey Blacks drove
Mr. Kinghorne's Superintendent and men from his Station in the
flood which then covered the Country, Aborigines of that Tribe
have been constantly threatening and actually committing depredations
on the Settlers, and Warrants for the apprehension of eight
individuals of that Tribe were issued. But, although fully aware
of the fact and its intention, from the secure retreat they possessed
among the Macquarie Marshes and being generally informed of
the approach of any policemen, they only become bolder, and, in
September last, had assembled to the number of about forty men
at a Station near Mount Foster, which they had stated their
determination to plunder as soon as the dray which had brought the
Supplies and its attendants should return.
At this juncture, a party of Mounted Police under Sergeant
Anderson who had information of their intention came upon them;
and, as most of the individuals named in the Warrants (which he
held) were identified amongst the Tribe, he endeavoured to capture
them, but being attacked and one of his party wounded he
was compelled to fire. It is to be lamented that as many as ten
Natives were shot in this encounter with the Police. At the same
time I am convinced that, but for the appearance of the Police at
this time and the Check given to the Aborigines, they would have
pillaged many of the lower Stations and in all probability have
murdered some of the Inhabitants.
Immediately before this a body of Blacks assembled from the Bogan,
Lachlan, and country between the McQuarie and Darling Rivers, and among
them I regret to say several of the Aborigines looked upon as domesticated,
in all one hundred and fifty or two hundred men.
On the 19th August, they came on the Macquarie. and during
that and the following day plundered five Stations.
They were pursued by two of the Bligh District Border Police
and a party of Settlers, who, after an obstinate resistance by the
Natives, two of whom were shot, recovered some of the stolen
property' (HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10).Source: HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10 https://doi.org/10.26181/22300306.v1