Causes Of Myall Creek Massacre
What led to the Myall creek massacre?
In late 1837, 4 white men were killed. The acting governor, Lieutenant Colonel Snodgrass sent Major James Nunn to the district to suppress the “outrageous acts”. From there 40 recruited stockman and rode around district, attacking and killing any aboriginals they could find.
Meanwhile at the Myall Creek station, when they had heard about the slaughtering in the district, around 45 aborigines had been camped for a few months. They were offered protection and food by the white settlers, in return for sexual acts by the women.
(http://www.myallcreekmassacre.com/Myall_Creek_Massacre/Home.html)
Over the 3 days prior to the massacre, the stockmen grouped around the creek and surrounding areas in preparation for the attack. The squatter also lead the fit and stronger men to cut bark on a nearby station therefore leaving the women, children and elderly men defenceless. …show more content…
The result of this attack meant that, on Australia day, 1838, a band of 11 convict and ex-convict men charged over the ridge at the aborigines before tying their hands together and leading those 800m to their death site.
Approximately 27-30 aboriginals were killed here and were left until found by a passer-by. The sources indicate this is a result of the aboriginals frightening and killing the cattle.
What was the result of the Myall creek massacre and how did it affect the rights and freedoms of
Australia?
Hobbs was horrified when he saw the dismembered corpses of his weraerai friends. He sorted through the dead bodies and counted 28 including many women, children and babies.
Hobbs questioned Anderson and Kilmeister about the massacre and Kilmeister denied any involvement while Anderson was hesitant at first to say much. Kilmeister initially persuaded Hobbs not to report the incident and that he wasn’t involved. But when nearby squatter Frederick Foote rode off to Sydney to report it, Hobbs reported it to his employer Henry Dangar and to the authorities.
After the Myall creek massacre 7 of the 11 men were hanged for their part in the massacre and the other 4 returned to their stations to resume work without charges being pursued.
Prior to the massacre, colonists gave each other nicknames like- ‘Slaughterhouse Creek’ and ‘Gravesend’ in a tribute to the aboriginals they had murdered. After this massacre, the nicknaming of the colonist in tribute to them murdering the aboriginals was ceased. Instead they named themselves pre-existing aboriginal’s names or aboriginal words as a tribute and reconciliation for their acts rather than naming themselves like a trophy.
The Myall Creek Massacre is such an important part of Australia’s history as it is the first example of the aboriginal peoples being viewed as humans rather than ‘black animals’ or other racial slurs.
How were the defendants proven guilty for the massacre?
First Trial
On November 15 1838, the first court case was held. It was discussed before Chief Justice of New South Wales, James Dowling.
George Anderson, was the only white witness. He was the owner of the Myall Creek station and refused to take part in the massacre. He spoke that the eleven rangers had tied the aborigines and lead them away. He also claimed that Edward Foley, showed him a sword soaked in blood.
Second Trial
At the second hearing Anderson was able to provide efficient evidence that there were two women left behind in the hut with one small boy he was able to rescue before being taken and two younger boys who hid in the creek.
"I [Anderson] saw smoke in the same direction they went; this was soon after they went with the firesticks... Fleming told Kilmeister to go up by-and-by and put the logs of wood together, and be sure that all [of the remains] was consumed... the girls they left, and the two boys, and the child I sent away with 10 black fellows that went away in the morning... I did not like to keep them, as the men might come back and kill them."
Anderson stated he did not want to leave any truth unspoken at the second trial. Within a trial that lasted until 2:00 AM the 7 murderers were assigned guilty and to be hanged.
In late 1837, 4 white men were killed. The acting governor, Lieutenant Colonel Snodgrass sent Major James Nunn to the district to suppress the “outrageous acts”. From there 40 recruited stockman and rode around district, attacking and killing any aboriginals they could find.
Meanwhile at the Myall Creek station, when they had heard about the slaughtering in the district, around 45 aborigines had been camped for a few months. They were offered protection and food by the white settlers, in return for sexual acts by the women.
(http://www.myallcreekmassacre.com/Myall_Creek_Massacre/Home.html)
Over the 3 days prior to the massacre, the stockmen grouped around the creek and surrounding areas in preparation for the attack. The squatter also lead the fit and stronger men to cut bark on a nearby station therefore leaving the women, children and elderly men defenceless. …show more content…
The result of this attack meant that, on Australia day, 1838, a band of 11 convict and ex-convict men charged over the ridge at the aborigines before tying their hands together and leading those 800m to their death site.
Approximately 27-30 aboriginals were killed here and were left until found by a passer-by. The sources indicate this is a result of the aboriginals frightening and killing the cattle.
What was the result of the Myall creek massacre and how did it affect the rights and freedoms of
Australia?
Hobbs was horrified when he saw the dismembered corpses of his weraerai friends. He sorted through the dead bodies and counted 28 including many women, children and babies.
Hobbs questioned Anderson and Kilmeister about the massacre and Kilmeister denied any involvement while Anderson was hesitant at first to say much. Kilmeister initially persuaded Hobbs not to report the incident and that he wasn’t involved. But when nearby squatter Frederick Foote rode off to Sydney to report it, Hobbs reported it to his employer Henry Dangar and to the authorities.
After the Myall creek massacre 7 of the 11 men were hanged for their part in the massacre and the other 4 returned to their stations to resume work without charges being pursued.
Prior to the massacre, colonists gave each other nicknames like- ‘Slaughterhouse Creek’ and ‘Gravesend’ in a tribute to the aboriginals they had murdered. After this massacre, the nicknaming of the colonist in tribute to them murdering the aboriginals was ceased. Instead they named themselves pre-existing aboriginal’s names or aboriginal words as a tribute and reconciliation for their acts rather than naming themselves like a trophy.
The Myall Creek Massacre is such an important part of Australia’s history as it is the first example of the aboriginal peoples being viewed as humans rather than ‘black animals’ or other racial slurs.
How were the defendants proven guilty for the massacre?
First Trial
On November 15 1838, the first court case was held. It was discussed before Chief Justice of New South Wales, James Dowling.
George Anderson, was the only white witness. He was the owner of the Myall Creek station and refused to take part in the massacre. He spoke that the eleven rangers had tied the aborigines and lead them away. He also claimed that Edward Foley, showed him a sword soaked in blood.
Second Trial
At the second hearing Anderson was able to provide efficient evidence that there were two women left behind in the hut with one small boy he was able to rescue before being taken and two younger boys who hid in the creek.
"I [Anderson] saw smoke in the same direction they went; this was soon after they went with the firesticks... Fleming told Kilmeister to go up by-and-by and put the logs of wood together, and be sure that all [of the remains] was consumed... the girls they left, and the two boys, and the child I sent away with 10 black fellows that went away in the morning... I did not like to keep them, as the men might come back and kill them."
Anderson stated he did not want to leave any truth unspoken at the second trial. Within a trial that lasted until 2:00 AM the 7 murderers were assigned guilty and to be hanged.