Massacre at Auvergne Station

Date: 23 Mar 1918 – 2 Apr 1918
Place: Auvergne Station
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
The Timber Creek Police Station Copy Book (1918) records on 10 April 1918 that Alexander MacDonald was speared after sundown near Dick's Creek, eight miles from the Auvergne Station homestead, on 23 March 1918. He was employed at the station and was camped near the creek in order to fix fences. He was found with two spear wounds in his back and one in his left arm. The Aboriginals accused were pursued into the stone country of Razorback Mountain (now known as Razorback Hill) on the West Baines River by Mounted Constable O'Connor and a party comprised of Archie Skuthorp (Manager, Auvergne Station), George Campbell, Bobby Frank and Peter (Aboriginal tracker). Three Aboriginal men were shot and killed on Razorback Mountain ��� names recorded as Milderong, Wilpelum and Warook and one was wounded ��� on 29 March. On 2 April, another four were found dead in the water in a gorge after the party opened fire following an ambush. They were identified as Doorakborough, Youburen (alleged to have speared MacDonald), Wungarrie and Yomgurrior. The wounded man was Lingerry and all belonged to the Cuderong tribe. What became of Lingerry (ie whether he survived) is not known. The Aboriginal attack was led by Youburen, according to Frank, an Aboriginal man.

Lewis (2021, p 25) corroborated this and questions the report of Mounted Constable O'Connor in relation to the difficulty of the pursuit. "At the very least it appears that O'Connor exaggerated his report to make his patrol seem much more dangerous than it really was. It begs the question whether any other details also had been 'modified'."
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Wardaman, Bilinara, Mudburra
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 7

People involved

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Auvergne Station
    23 Mar 1918 – 2 Apr 1918 — Auvergne Station — massacre
    The Timber Creek Police Station Copy Book (1918) records on 10 April 1918 that Alexander MacDonald was speared after sundown near Dick's Creek, eight miles from the Auvergne Station homestead, on 23 March 1918. He was employed at the station and was camped near the creek in order to fix fences. He was found with two spear wounds in his back and one in his left arm. The Aboriginals accused were pursued into the stone country of Razorback Mountain (now known as Razorback Hill) on the West Baines River by Mounted Constable O'Connor and a party comprised of Archie Skuthorp (Manager, Auvergne Station), George Campbell, Bobby Frank and Peter (Aboriginal tracker). Three Aboriginal men were shot and killed on Razorback Mountain ��� names recorded as Milderong, Wilpelum and Warook and one was wounded ��� on 29 March. On 2 April, another four were found dead in the water in a gorge after the party opened fire following an ambush. They were identified as Doorakborough, Youburen (alleged to have speared MacDonald), Wungarrie and Yomgurrior. The wounded man was Lingerry and all belonged to the Cuderong tribe. What became of Lingerry (ie whether he survived) is not known. The Aboriginal attack was led by Youburen, according to Frank, an Aboriginal man.

    Lewis (2021, p 25) corroborated this and questions the report of Mounted Constable O'Connor in relation to the difficulty of the pursuit. "At the very least it appears that O'Connor exaggerated his report to make his patrol seem much more dangerous than it really was. It begs the question whether any other details also had been 'modified'."
    Source: Lewis, 2021, p 25; Timber Creek Police Station Copy Book, 10 April 1918; Timber Creek Police Station Register of Reported Deaths, 1895-1944; NTTG, April 20, 1918, p 24 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3288859; NTTG,May 11, 1918, p 15 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3289247; Riverine Herald, June 24, 1918, p 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90178007; Lewis, 2021, https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/836453/0/0