Massacre at Suttor and Belyando Rivers

Date: 1 Jan 1864 – 31 Jan 1864
Place: Suttor and Belyando Rivers
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Following the killing of two shepherds by Aboriginal people at Hermitage Station, recently leased by Mr Raymond and Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh, a native police detachment under the command of Sub-Inspector Reginald Uhr, and a party of volunteers, set off on a punitive expedition in search of the Aboriginal perpetrators. Ten days later the expedition came across the Jangga in the scrub near the junction of the Suttor and Belyando Rivers and shot 12 of them. According to historian Tim Bottoms, (2013) several women were also captured and Fetherstonhaugh and Uhr then shared their dinner surrounded by the corpses and the bound and roped women.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Jangga
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 14

People involved

This data has not yet been gathered. Research work is ongoing. To help, please consider donating or contact us to volunteer or about setting up research projects in your area.

Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Suttor and Belyando Rivers
    1 Jan 1864 – 31 Jan 1864 — Suttor and Belyando Rivers — massacre
    Following the killing of two shepherds by Aboriginal people at Hermitage Station, recently leased by Mr Raymond and Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh, a native police detachment under the command of Sub-Inspector Reginald Uhr, and a party of volunteers, set off on a punitive expedition in search of the Aboriginal perpetrators. Ten days later the expedition came across the Jangga in the scrub near the junction of the Suttor and Belyando Rivers and shot 12 of them. According to historian Tim Bottoms, (2013) several women were also captured and Fetherstonhaugh and Uhr then shared their dinner surrounded by the corpses and the bound and roped women.
    Source: Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, April 1, 1865, p 2http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147933024; Fetherstonhaugh, 1917, pp 272-274; Richards, 2008, p 264; Bottoms, 2013, pp 109-110.