Massacre at Black Camp Creek (Spring Gully Creek), Williams River

Date: 1 Jan 1841 – 31 Dec 1841
Place: Black Camp Creek (Spring Gully Creek), Williams River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In 1841, two stockmen employed by settler Timothy Nowlan of 'Walleroba' station on the Williams River, were killed by Worimi warriors. In reprisal, a detachment of mounted police proceeded to pursue the culprits. They came up with a group of Worimi at Black Camp Creek and in the encounter killed all but one of the group and according to local historian RL Ford (1995, p 128), Mundiva (Mundiba) was the sole survivor. According to Clarke and Irwin, the biographers of the Gorton brothers who lived nearby, Nolan was also speared (Clarke and Irwin 1977, p.15). Irwin said that her uncle EDF Gorton was shown the massacre site by his father and grandfather, that the reprisal massacre took place in the evening and that as a lad, the grandfather 'chopped musket balls from the trees, in which it is said that the fearful Aborigines had attempted to find a refuge' (Clarke and Irwin 1977, p.16).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Worimi
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 20

People involved

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Sources

  • Ford 1995, p 128; Clarke and Irwin 1975, pp15-16.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Black Camp Creek (Spring Gully Creek), Williams River
    1 Jan 1841 – 31 Dec 1841 — Black Camp Creek (Spring Gully Creek), Williams River — massacre
    In 1841, two stockmen employed by settler Timothy Nowlan of 'Walleroba' station on the Williams River, were killed by Worimi warriors. In reprisal, a detachment of mounted police proceeded to pursue the culprits. They came up with a group of Worimi at Black Camp Creek and in the encounter killed all but one of the group and according to local historian RL Ford (1995, p 128), Mundiva (Mundiba) was the sole survivor. According to Clarke and Irwin, the biographers of the Gorton brothers who lived nearby, Nolan was also speared (Clarke and Irwin 1977, p.15). Irwin said that her uncle EDF Gorton was shown the massacre site by his father and grandfather, that the reprisal massacre took place in the evening and that as a lad, the grandfather 'chopped musket balls from the trees, in which it is said that the fearful Aborigines had attempted to find a refuge' (Clarke and Irwin 1977, p.16).
    Source: Ford 1995, p 128; Clarke and Irwin 1975, pp15-16.