Massacre at Goose Hill - East Kimberley

Date: 1 Apr 1888 – 30 Apr 1888
Place: Goose Hill - East Kimberley
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In September 1888, on what appeared 'a routine police patrol to investigate horse spearing, PC Graham and others, including his native assistant Banjo, shot and killed Aboriginal people at Goose Hill' in the East Kimberley (Owen, 2016, p 236). After rumours circulated that a lot more people were killed, more evidence came out. There were five more colonists including a man called Howard and another called Liddelton with the police party and they had all agreed to launch a punitive expedition to 'teach them a lesson' for spearing colonists' horses. Police officer Richard Troy charged all the men with murder which caused outrage in the town of Wyndham and there were fears the townspeople would try and break the accused out of prison. Though charged, none were convicted due to 'lack of evidence.' When Howard was confronted with the charge of 'murdering five natives', he told police that he thought the killings might have 'blown over', remarking that 'I cannot see that I have done much wrong' (CSO, 'Government Resident Wyndham - Natives (5) shot by PC. Graham & others in April 88). It is pos��sible that over sixteen times more Aboriginal people (including women and children) were killed than the ones mentioned. The Sunday Times September 13, 1908 corroborates much of the detail and suggested that 'as many as eighty natives may have been butchered' (Sunday Times, September 13, 1908, p 3).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Kitja, Worla
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

People involved

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Sources

  • CSO, 'Government Resident Wyndham - Natives (5) shot by PC. Graham & others in April 88. Report,' File Note G.B. Phillips, Commissioner of Police to Hon. Colonial Secretary, enclosing reports from Sergeant Troy and statements from PC Graham and native assistant Banjo, 2 October 1888, SROWA, AN 24, Acc. 527, File 2776/1888; Sunday Times, September 13, 1908, p 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57585524/4330457; Owen, 2016, pp 236-240.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Goose Hill - East Kimberley
    1 Apr 1888 – 30 Apr 1888 — Goose Hill - East Kimberley — massacre
    In September 1888, on what appeared 'a routine police patrol to investigate horse spearing, PC Graham and others, including his native assistant Banjo, shot and killed Aboriginal people at Goose Hill' in the East Kimberley (Owen, 2016, p 236). After rumours circulated that a lot more people were killed, more evidence came out. There were five more colonists including a man called Howard and another called Liddelton with the police party and they had all agreed to launch a punitive expedition to 'teach them a lesson' for spearing colonists' horses. Police officer Richard Troy charged all the men with murder which caused outrage in the town of Wyndham and there were fears the townspeople would try and break the accused out of prison. Though charged, none were convicted due to 'lack of evidence.' When Howard was confronted with the charge of 'murdering five natives', he told police that he thought the killings might have 'blown over', remarking that 'I cannot see that I have done much wrong' (CSO, 'Government Resident Wyndham - Natives (5) shot by PC. Graham & others in April 88). It is pos��sible that over sixteen times more Aboriginal people (including women and children) were killed than the ones mentioned. The Sunday Times September 13, 1908 corroborates much of the detail and suggested that 'as many as eighty natives may have been butchered' (Sunday Times, September 13, 1908, p 3).
    Source: CSO, 'Government Resident Wyndham - Natives (5) shot by PC. Graham & others in April 88. Report,' File Note G.B. Phillips, Commissioner of Police to Hon. Colonial Secretary, enclosing reports from Sergeant Troy and statements from PC Graham and native assistant Banjo, 2 October 1888, SROWA, AN 24, Acc. 527, File 2776/1888; Sunday Times, September 13, 1908, p 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57585524/4330457; Owen, 2016, pp 236-240.