Massacre at Warraweena

Date: 1 Jan 1858 – 31 Dec 1858
Place: Warraweena
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes

The Maryborough Chronicle republished an extract from Stockwhip, 22 April, 1876 describing 'barbarities' committed in New South Wales in relation to the lethal flogging of an Aboriginal boy in Queensland. The article describes an atrocity in graphic detail, and mentions three locations at which 'barbarities' occurred in the vicinity of Brewarrina: 'When, however, these monsters "had their cattle together" they would collect themselves for the purpose of "a bit of sport," which meant going on the trail of the aboriginals. "Hospital Creek," opposite Breewarrina, "The Point," between Yambegoona and the same place, and Warraweena Billywung might, if they could speak, tell of deeds unparalleled even in the Book of Books. We are now speaking of the years from 1840-1858' (Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 9 May 1876, p 4).
Hospital Creek is a well known massacre site. The incident at 'The Point' near Yambegoona is probably not a massacre, but the atrocity committed against an individual that is mentioned specifically in relation to 'Yambecoona' in another article: 'The most brutal story he told me, and again showed the spot and stump, was that he and two stockmen were coming up the river close to Yambecoona, when they met a blackfellow...' (The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 1 Apr 1869, p 4).
This earlier article describes the activities of three Aboriginal men from Liverpool Plains employed by colonists in the area: 'One of these demons, Pelica Jemmy, told me some revolting stories. He said he had shot and poisoned in his time 170, and that Brewarina Jemmy, had killed far more than he' (The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 1 Apr 1869, p 4). The article then focuses on Hospital Creek. The article makes it clear that the killing had been sustained for a long period at many sites but only mentions three specific sites: Hospital Creek, which is marked elsewhere on this site; Yambecoona at which one person was killed, and; Warraweena, the only other identified place where this widespread killing occurred.

Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: barranbinya
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 20

People involved

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Warraweena
    1 Jan 1858 – 31 Dec 1858 — Warraweena — massacre

    The Maryborough Chronicle republished an extract from Stockwhip, 22 April, 1876 describing 'barbarities' committed in New South Wales in relation to the lethal flogging of an Aboriginal boy in Queensland. The article describes an atrocity in graphic detail, and mentions three locations at which 'barbarities' occurred in the vicinity of Brewarrina: 'When, however, these monsters "had their cattle together" they would collect themselves for the purpose of "a bit of sport," which meant going on the trail of the aboriginals. "Hospital Creek," opposite Breewarrina, "The Point," between Yambegoona and the same place, and Warraweena Billywung might, if they could speak, tell of deeds unparalleled even in the Book of Books. We are now speaking of the years from 1840-1858' (Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 9 May 1876, p 4).
    Hospital Creek is a well known massacre site. The incident at 'The Point' near Yambegoona is probably not a massacre, but the atrocity committed against an individual that is mentioned specifically in relation to 'Yambecoona' in another article: 'The most brutal story he told me, and again showed the spot and stump, was that he and two stockmen were coming up the river close to Yambecoona, when they met a blackfellow...' (The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 1 Apr 1869, p 4).
    This earlier article describes the activities of three Aboriginal men from Liverpool Plains employed by colonists in the area: 'One of these demons, Pelica Jemmy, told me some revolting stories. He said he had shot and poisoned in his time 170, and that Brewarina Jemmy, had killed far more than he' (The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 1 Apr 1869, p 4). The article then focuses on Hospital Creek. The article makes it clear that the killing had been sustained for a long period at many sites but only mentions three specific sites: Hospital Creek, which is marked elsewhere on this site; Yambecoona at which one person was killed, and; Warraweena, the only other identified place where this widespread killing occurred.

    Source:

    Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 9 May 1876, p 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148509158; The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 1 Apr 1869, p 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113830392