Massacre at Dead Man's Flat
Overlanding groups passing through this region in 1839, such as Lachlan Mackinnon’s party and John Finnis’s, as well as George McLeod and Robert Flood taking bringing provisions from Adelaide were attacked by Aboriginal people (Burke et al, p 154). In 1841 O'Halloran recorded in his diary, described:
'a spot where several parties have been attacked (Mr Eyre,52 Tooth & others) and where a European was killed by the natives and lies buried between 2 trees with an F upon one, this man belonged to Mr McKinnon's party – I shall therefore distinguish our present encampment as the "Dead Man's flat" ... From what I can gather from some of the men who came overland – several natives have been killed upon different occasions – I understand the latter nearly took the life of Mr Tooth and Eyre was turned back and obliged to get further strength ere he could pass.' (O’Halloran cited in Burke et al, p 154)
While details on the killing in this region in 1839 are unclear, Burke et al distinguish Dead Man's Flat from the location of other killings in 1839 at Langhorne's Ferry at Rufus River (pp 154-161).
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Marrawarra, Ngintait
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 8
People involved
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Sources
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Burke et al, 2016, pp 154 https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n2179/pdf/article06.pdf
Event mentions
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Massacre at Dead Man's Flat1 May 1841 – 31 May 1841 — Dead Man's Flat — massacre
Overlanding groups passing through this region in 1839, such as Lachlan Mackinnon’s party and John Finnis’s, as well as George McLeod and Robert Flood taking bringing provisions from Adelaide were attacked by Aboriginal people (Burke et al, p 154). In 1841 O'Halloran recorded in his diary, described:
'a spot where several parties have been attacked (Mr Eyre,52 Tooth & others) and where a European was killed by the natives and lies buried between 2 trees with an F upon one, this man belonged to Mr McKinnon's party – I shall therefore distinguish our present encampment as the "Dead Man's flat" ... From what I can gather from some of the men who came overland – several natives have been killed upon different occasions – I understand the latter nearly took the life of Mr Tooth and Eyre was turned back and obliged to get further strength ere he could pass.' (O’Halloran cited in Burke et al, p 154)
While details on the killing in this region in 1839 are unclear, Burke et al distinguish Dead Man's Flat from the location of other killings in 1839 at Langhorne's Ferry at Rufus River (pp 154-161).Source:Burke et al, 2016, pp 154 https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n2179/pdf/article06.pdf