Massacre at Wickham River
Mounted Constable William Willshire wrote in 1895 (p 43): 'Whilst tracking some natives who had been killing cattle on the Victoria Run in August 1894, we came upon them camped in a gorge off the north bank of the River Wickham. The war cry sounded through the tribe, and they picked up their spears and commenced climbing the precipitous sides. As there was no getting away the females and children crawled into rocky embrasures, and there they remained. When we had finished with the male portion, we brought the black gins and their offspring out from their rocky alcoves'.
Rose (1992, p 12) noted, quoting Lindsay Crawford, the first Manager of Victoria River Station in 1895: '���during the last ten years, in fact since the first white man settled here, we have held no communication with the natives at all, except with the rifle. They have never been allowed near this station or the outstations, being too treacherous and warlike'.
Rose (1992, p 12) noted, quoting Lindsay Crawford, the first Manager of Victoria River Station in 1895: '���during the last ten years, in fact since the first white man settled here, we have held no communication with the natives at all, except with the rifle. They have never been allowed near this station or the outstations, being too treacherous and warlike'.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Ngarinman, Bilinara
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 35
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Ngarinman, Bilinara
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 35
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Wickham River1 Aug 1894 – 30 Aug 1894 — Wickham River — massacreMounted Constable William Willshire wrote in 1895 (p 43): 'Whilst tracking some natives who had been killing cattle on the Victoria Run in August 1894, we came upon them camped in a gorge off the north bank of the River Wickham. The war cry sounded through the tribe, and they picked up their spears and commenced climbing the precipitous sides. As there was no getting away the females and children crawled into rocky embrasures, and there they remained. When we had finished with the male portion, we brought the black gins and their offspring out from their rocky alcoves'.
Rose (1992, p 12) noted, quoting Lindsay Crawford, the first Manager of Victoria River Station in 1895: '���during the last ten years, in fact since the first white man settled here, we have held no communication with the natives at all, except with the rifle. They have never been allowed near this station or the outstations, being too treacherous and warlike'.