Massacre at Woolgar River

Date: 1 Jan 1872 – 31 Dec 1872
Place: Woolgar River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In 1872, according to historian Jonathan Richards (2008, p 22), following the killing of John Cook by Ngawn people, 160 km from the Norman River, and most likely near the Woolgar River, Robert Gome, a witness to the killing, led Sub-Inspector Alexander Salmond and five native police troopers to the 'scene of the outrage' and then 'followed the tracks, came up with the blacks and dispersed them'. Salmond admitted that he 'found nothing' that would 'connect them with the outrage' (Gome and Salmond cited in Richards, 2008, p 22).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Ngawn
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

People involved

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Sources

  • Richards, 2008, p 22.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Woolgar River
    1 Jan 1872 – 31 Dec 1872 — Woolgar River — massacre
    In 1872, according to historian Jonathan Richards (2008, p 22), following the killing of John Cook by Ngawn people, 160 km from the Norman River, and most likely near the Woolgar River, Robert Gome, a witness to the killing, led Sub-Inspector Alexander Salmond and five native police troopers to the 'scene of the outrage' and then 'followed the tracks, came up with the blacks and dispersed them'. Salmond admitted that he 'found nothing' that would 'connect them with the outrage' (Gome and Salmond cited in Richards, 2008, p 22).
    Source: Richards, 2008, p 22.