Beveridge's Station

Date: 23 Aug 1846 – 1 Dec 1846
Place: Pannyan (spelling unclear)

On 23rd August, 1846, Andrew Beveridge was killed in a targeted attack by Aboriginal men known to colonists as Bobby, Wellington, and Tungie. Tungie was said to be a chief of the Burra Burra tribe. Another, 'Watty' had enticed Beveridge out of the tent where he was eating breakfast with John Ryan and John Kelly (12 Sept, 1846, p4). Beveridge died of 4 spear wounds (1 Dec, 1846 p2). Since the Aboriginal people spoke directly to Beveridge and killed him with 4 spears, while others were told to leave or allowed to escape, it is likely Beveridge was being punished for a serious offense against Aboriginal people.


3 days after Mr Beveridge was killed, a stockman at Coghill's was also killed (3 Sept 1846, p2).


Later, Mr Byerley, the superintendent of Mr Coghill's station noticed a large camp of Aboriginal people across the river and sent for the police. He told Sergeant Johnson of the Border Police, with two troopers, he could identify Mr Beveridge's killers. The police disguised themselves as shepherds. An Aboriginal messenger visited asking who the 'fresh arrivals' were and why they had come. The police pretended to be looking for a run and offered tomahawks to be shown good land and promised more to anyone who would help them. Eventually a group of 25 was enticed with offers of food and tomahawks to eat with the disguised police at a campfire. Mr Byerley identified Beveridge's killers by surreptitiously placing pieces of bark behind them. Taken by surprise those identified were captured with ropes, held at gun point, handcuffed and taken into the hut, while the others got away. After an hour the messenger arrived and told both the prisoners and the colonists to stay awake as many 'Murray black fellow' (26, Nov 1846, p 4) would be coming. Signal fires were seen across the hills and warriors assembled. The colonists fortified the hut, prepared ammunition and dispatched their a messenger of their own to Curlewis's neighbouring station 75km away who sent 3 men as reinforcements making a total of 'eight well armed, active, and determined men' (26, Nov 1846, p 4). '... fifty of the picked men of the assembled tribe, resolutely advanced into the open space in front of the hut; they were all in their war dress - paint and emu feathers, and other insignia of their rank, and standing as warriors and chiefs of the various tribes, then congregated... Their bodies were smeared from head to foot with a red earth (curraco) their feathers nodding like plumes from a hearse..." (26, Nov 1846, p 4). Among those killed the colonists claimed to have shot 'Dick the Needle', a Murrumbidgee chief and Warrangurran, a chief of the Gunboree tribe (26, Nov 1846, p 4). The attack continued until night when the Aboriginal people continued the seige by camping near the hut. At dawn nine armed men on horseback arrived and the Aboriginal warriors retreated. One of the captured men almost escaped during the trip to Melbourne for trial.


Three Aboriginal warriors, known to colonists as Bobby, Ptolmie and Bullet-eye where charged (1846, December 1, p 2). 

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Event mentions

  • Beveridge's Station
    23 Aug 1846 – 1 Dec 1846 — Pannyan (spelling unclear)

    On 23rd August, 1846, Andrew Beveridge was killed in a targeted attack by Aboriginal men known to colonists as Bobby, Wellington, and Tungie. Tungie was said to be a chief of the Burra Burra tribe. Another, 'Watty' had enticed Beveridge out of the tent where he was eating breakfast with John Ryan and John Kelly (12 Sept, 1846, p4). Beveridge died of 4 spear wounds (1 Dec, 1846 p2). Since the Aboriginal people spoke directly to Beveridge and killed him with 4 spears, while others were told to leave or allowed to escape, it is likely Beveridge was being punished for a serious offense against Aboriginal people.


    3 days after Mr Beveridge was killed, a stockman at Coghill's was also killed (3 Sept 1846, p2).


    Later, Mr Byerley, the superintendent of Mr Coghill's station noticed a large camp of Aboriginal people across the river and sent for the police. He told Sergeant Johnson of the Border Police, with two troopers, he could identify Mr Beveridge's killers. The police disguised themselves as shepherds. An Aboriginal messenger visited asking who the 'fresh arrivals' were and why they had come. The police pretended to be looking for a run and offered tomahawks to be shown good land and promised more to anyone who would help them. Eventually a group of 25 was enticed with offers of food and tomahawks to eat with the disguised police at a campfire. Mr Byerley identified Beveridge's killers by surreptitiously placing pieces of bark behind them. Taken by surprise those identified were captured with ropes, held at gun point, handcuffed and taken into the hut, while the others got away. After an hour the messenger arrived and told both the prisoners and the colonists to stay awake as many 'Murray black fellow' (26, Nov 1846, p 4) would be coming. Signal fires were seen across the hills and warriors assembled. The colonists fortified the hut, prepared ammunition and dispatched their a messenger of their own to Curlewis's neighbouring station 75km away who sent 3 men as reinforcements making a total of 'eight well armed, active, and determined men' (26, Nov 1846, p 4). '... fifty of the picked men of the assembled tribe, resolutely advanced into the open space in front of the hut; they were all in their war dress - paint and emu feathers, and other insignia of their rank, and standing as warriors and chiefs of the various tribes, then congregated... Their bodies were smeared from head to foot with a red earth (curraco) their feathers nodding like plumes from a hearse..." (26, Nov 1846, p 4). Among those killed the colonists claimed to have shot 'Dick the Needle', a Murrumbidgee chief and Warrangurran, a chief of the Gunboree tribe (26, Nov 1846, p 4). The attack continued until night when the Aboriginal people continued the seige by camping near the hut. At dawn nine armed men on horseback arrived and the Aboriginal warriors retreated. One of the captured men almost escaped during the trip to Melbourne for trial.


    Three Aboriginal warriors, known to colonists as Bobby, Ptolmie and Bullet-eye where charged (1846, December 1, p 2). 

    Source:

    Ham, Thomas. (1849). A map of Australia Felix Retrieved October 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231450539

    MELBOURNE. (1846, September 2). Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate (Vic. : 1845 - 1847), p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94444530

    Local Intelligence. (1846, September 3). The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser (Vic. : 1845 - 1848), p. 2. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226351156

    Port Phillip. (1846, September 12). The Citizen (Sydney, NSW : 1846 - 1847), p. 4. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article252637417

    CAPTURE OF THE MURDERERS OF MR. BEVERIDGE. (1846, November 26). The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser (Vic. : 1845 - 1848), p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226350807

    Local Intelligence. (1846, December 1). The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser (Vic. : 1845 - 1848), p. 2. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226351014

    DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. (1846, December 9). Port Phillip Gazette and Settler's Journal (Vic. : 1845 - 1850), p. 4. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223154201

    PORT PHILLIP. (1847, February 6). The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2972734