Massacre at Bedford Downs

Date: 1 Jan 1924 – 31 Dec 1924
Place: Bedford Downs
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In April 1924 at Bedford Downs Station a massacre occurred. This massacre is recorded in Aboriginal oral history. Kija Elder Dotty Watby described to Helen Ross (Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59) how, in response to the killing of a valuable bullock, Kija and Worla people were forced to cut wood. They were then given damper (bread) that was poisoned. After they were poisoned (as Dotty stated, they 'drop down') managers and stockmen from adjacent stations, including a notoriously violent man named Jack Carey and adjoining station owners, started shooting everyone. She remembered that they 'Killem all dem blackfellas, family for us mob.' Then: 'Right, dem bin gettem dat wagon, gettam dat donkey and pullem la fire. They loadem in big pile like dat and chuckem allawood, chuckem, chuckem, chuckem, kerosene, chuckem kerosene, Dey bin light dat fire ��� terrible' (Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Kitja, Worla
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 20

People involved

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Sources

  • Dotty Whatby in Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59; Clement, 1989, p 4; Ryan, 2001, pp 63, 65���68; Kimberley Languages Resource Centre, 1996, pp 101���109; Owen, 2016, pp 439-440.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Bedford Downs
    1 Jan 1924 – 31 Dec 1924 — Bedford Downs — massacre
    In April 1924 at Bedford Downs Station a massacre occurred. This massacre is recorded in Aboriginal oral history. Kija Elder Dotty Watby described to Helen Ross (Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59) how, in response to the killing of a valuable bullock, Kija and Worla people were forced to cut wood. They were then given damper (bread) that was poisoned. After they were poisoned (as Dotty stated, they 'drop down') managers and stockmen from adjacent stations, including a notoriously violent man named Jack Carey and adjoining station owners, started shooting everyone. She remembered that they 'Killem all dem blackfellas, family for us mob.' Then: 'Right, dem bin gettem dat wagon, gettam dat donkey and pullem la fire. They loadem in big pile like dat and chuckem allawood, chuckem, chuckem, chuckem, kerosene, chuckem kerosene, Dey bin light dat fire ��� terrible' (Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59).
    Source: Dotty Whatby in Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 56-59; Clement, 1989, p 4; Ryan, 2001, pp 63, 65���68; Kimberley Languages Resource Centre, 1996, pp 101���109; Owen, 2016, pp 439-440.