Massacre at Dajarra Monument, Selwyn Ranges

Date: 1 Feb 1879 – 28 Feb 1879
Place: Dajarra Monument, Selwyn Ranges
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Following the killing of stockman Bernard Molvo and three other stockmen at Wonomo Waterhole on Sulieman Creek between 12 and 21 January 1879 by Yalarrnga and Pitta Pitta warriors who were conducting a major ceremony, Acting Sub-Inspector Edward Eglington set off in early February with a detachment of native police, settlers William Paterson, Alexander Kennedy, Robert Currie, Frederick Margetts and some stockmen in search of the alleged perpetrators. Over the next few weeks, according to Yalarrnga descendants of the survivors, the posse slaughtered more than 100 Yalarrnga and Pitta Pitta men, women and children in five separate massacres known as the Selwyn Ranges massacres (Bottoms, 2013, 162-164). The Dajarra Monument is the last massacre in the site group. The reprisal massacres were reported in the contemporary press, in settler memoirs (Fysh, 1961), and in interviews with Aboriginal descendants (Davidson et al, 2000).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Yalarrnga, Pitta Pitta
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 20

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Dajarra Monument, Selwyn Ranges
    1 Feb 1879 – 28 Feb 1879 — Dajarra Monument, Selwyn Ranges — massacre
    Following the killing of stockman Bernard Molvo and three other stockmen at Wonomo Waterhole on Sulieman Creek between 12 and 21 January 1879 by Yalarrnga and Pitta Pitta warriors who were conducting a major ceremony, Acting Sub-Inspector Edward Eglington set off in early February with a detachment of native police, settlers William Paterson, Alexander Kennedy, Robert Currie, Frederick Margetts and some stockmen in search of the alleged perpetrators. Over the next few weeks, according to Yalarrnga descendants of the survivors, the posse slaughtered more than 100 Yalarrnga and Pitta Pitta men, women and children in five separate massacres known as the Selwyn Ranges massacres (Bottoms, 2013, 162-164). The Dajarra Monument is the last massacre in the site group. The reprisal massacres were reported in the contemporary press, in settler memoirs (Fysh, 1961), and in interviews with Aboriginal descendants (Davidson et al, 2000).
    Source: Brisbane Courier, March 5, 1879, "Murders in the Far West" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article898062; Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), March 1, 1879, "Blackall. [From our Correspondent] http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51991181; Queenslander, January 8, 1921 "Sketcher, Early Days in North-West Queensland" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page2524752; Townsville Daily Bulletin, June 29, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62574187, January 27, 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61581906, August 16, 1948 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63372166; Fysh, 1961, p 94; Bottoms, 2013, p 162-164; Davidson, 2020, pp 1-16.