Protecting Rabbit Island
"Rabbit Island, situated near Lady's Bay, affords good shelter on its north-west coast for shipping, where vessels of large tonnage can lie in security during gales from the southward. This little island, about two miles in circumference, affords good sport and fresh meat to the whalers, who procure here great numbers of rabbits with which it abounds; the mutton birds and these animals conjointly have entire possession of the island. On the west side of the island there are the remains of a hut and garden, said to have been destroyed by the Gipp's Land Blacks, who came across from the main land, about two miles distant, in their canoes, and insisted on the occupants of the island leaving in their boat, which they did, and had the mortification of seeing their hut burned and the garden destroyed. The rocks around the shore are covered with a small species of muscle good for food." (p 51, Haydon, 1846) Date range estimated from the time of violence in Gunai Kurnai country.
People involved
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Sources
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Haydon, G.H. Five Years' Experience in Australia Felix London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co., Paternoster Row, 1846 https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/M0043377.pdf
Event mentions
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Protecting Rabbit Island1 Jan 1840 – 1 Jan 1844 — Rabbit Island
"Rabbit Island, situated near Lady's Bay, affords good shelter on its north-west coast for shipping, where vessels of large tonnage can lie in security during gales from the southward. This little island, about two miles in circumference, affords good sport and fresh meat to the whalers, who procure here great numbers of rabbits with which it abounds; the mutton birds and these animals conjointly have entire possession of the island. On the west side of the island there are the remains of a hut and garden, said to have been destroyed by the Gipp's Land Blacks, who came across from the main land, about two miles distant, in their canoes, and insisted on the occupants of the island leaving in their boat, which they did, and had the mortification of seeing their hut burned and the garden destroyed. The rocks around the shore are covered with a small species of muscle good for food." (p 51, Haydon, 1846) Date range estimated from the time of violence in Gunai Kurnai country.
Source:Haydon, G.H. Five Years' Experience in Australia Felix London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co., Paternoster Row, 1846 https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/M0043377.pdf