Massacre at Texas Downs, East Kimberley

Date: 1 Jan 1908 – 31 Dec 1908
Place: Texas Downs, East Kimberley
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Hector Chunda told Helen Ross of the Texas Downs massacre: 'Lot of people bin get killed longa Texas Downs. Right longa where that house is (present homestead). Right under there. He never bin have em house there then. They bin have em bamboo, what they make spear with, that kind of thing bion grow there. Shoot them and burn em up there. And next time they bin go over to Mirririji there, another creek. That's the station Creek, another creek there. Just not to far away from house. Shootem there shoot em there, finish em up. Some young women they bin tie em up, bring em here (Turkey Creek). Young women, for working. Some kartiya bin married to him, black woman, young girl. They bin have em for wife or something like that. That's the way plenty half-castes now' (Hector Chunda cited in Ross and Bray, 1989, p 20).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Worla, Kitja, Jaru
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 9

People involved

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Sources

  • Clement, 1989, pp 21-22; Shaw, 1986, p 98-101; Shaw, 1998, passim; Ross and Bray, 1989, p 20.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Texas Downs, East Kimberley
    1 Jan 1908 – 31 Dec 1908 — Texas Downs, East Kimberley — massacre
    Hector Chunda told Helen Ross of the Texas Downs massacre: 'Lot of people bin get killed longa Texas Downs. Right longa where that house is (present homestead). Right under there. He never bin have em house there then. They bin have em bamboo, what they make spear with, that kind of thing bion grow there. Shoot them and burn em up there. And next time they bin go over to Mirririji there, another creek. That's the station Creek, another creek there. Just not to far away from house. Shootem there shoot em there, finish em up. Some young women they bin tie em up, bring em here (Turkey Creek). Young women, for working. Some kartiya bin married to him, black woman, young girl. They bin have em for wife or something like that. That's the way plenty half-castes now' (Hector Chunda cited in Ross and Bray, 1989, p 20).
    Source: Clement, 1989, pp 21-22; Shaw, 1986, p 98-101; Shaw, 1998, passim; Ross and Bray, 1989, p 20.