Fighting Waterholes massacre

In April 1840 the Fighting Waterholes massacre of up to 60 Jardwadjali Aboriginal people of the Konongwootong Gundidj clan occurred near the current day Konongwootong reservoir (then known as Den Hills creek), near present-day Coleraine, Victoria, Australia.[1][2][3]

Coleraine is located in Australia
Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine (Australia)

Background

On 1 March 1840, the Whyte brothers (William, George, Pringle and James Whyte) of the Konongwootong sheep run, along with their servants, were involved in the Fighting Hills massacre. Aboriginal protector Charles Sievwright investigated the incident but was unable to secure evidence from any third party witnesses, despite depositions from the participants admitting to the killing.

Massacre

On 1 April, after the Konongwootong Gundidj stole sheep, the Whyte brothers and station hands Henry Skilton and William Fox rode off looking for the offenders. Having not found the sheep or Aboriginal people, the Whyte brothers rode off to the nearest station while the remaining station hands rode on to the home station. It was on the way there that station hands came upon "numerous old men, women and children" camping near waterholes. The station hands killed all the members of the camp.[4] There was varying reports of the numbers of the slain, from "numerous" to 40 and 60.[2][5][1]

Aftermath

After news of the massacre spread, the Whyte brothers dismissed the station hands.[2]

Eventually the remnants of the Konongwootong Gundidj clan moved on to Murndal station, where they joined the Wanedeet Gundidj clan.[2]

Later, news stories attributed the massacre to retaliation organised by the Whyte brothers to avenge the killing of a white shepherd in the area of Merino Downs.[6][7]

In 1946 heavy flood uncovered skulls and bones, which were discovered by T. J. Fitzgerald.[3][2] The remains were later reburied.[8]

Memorial

A commemorative site at the Konong Wootong reservoir, named the Konongwootong Quiet Place, was created in 2014 to acknowledge the event.[4]

Further reading
  • Razik, Naveen (11 July 2020). "Victoria to introduce Australia's first truth-telling process to address Indigenous injustices". SBS News, Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  • Thorne, Leonie (11 July 2020). "Victoria to establish truth and justice process as part of Aboriginal treaty process". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.

References
  1. "PICTURESQUE VICTORIA". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 12, 118. Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1885. p. 4. Retrieved 9 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. D., Clark, Ian (1995). Scars in the landscape : a register of massacre sites in western Victoria, 1803-1859. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. ISBN 0855752815. OCLC 41539940.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. partland, lily (10 July 2014). "Western District memorial commemorates Aboriginal massacre". ABC South West Vic. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  4. STEWART, BRITTANY (9 July 2014). "Reservoir ceremony remembers Aboriginal massacre". The Standard. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  5. "Konongwootong Quiet Place | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  6. "EARLY HISTORY OF NAREEN". Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953). 25 October 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  7. "MEMORIES REVIVED". Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953). 5 May 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  8. "VHD". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 9 February 2019.

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