Killing of Maryann and Ngunnirri Burka by William Carter, 13 July 1844

Date: 13 Jul 1844
Place: Wortappa, Hallett’s station, near Mt Bryan
At Wortappa, John Hallett’s sheep station near Mt Bryan, a group of five Europeans led by William Moore Carter made a dawn raid on a group of Aboriginal people who had taken some sheep. Two Aboriginal people were killed, and another two injured. On hearing of the confrontation Governor Grey ordered an investigation. Spratt, Smith and Pritt were committed on the charge of feloniously killing Ngunnirri Burka and Mary Ann. Despite the determined efforts of government officials, Carter escaped arrest, aided by Edward Leake, a pastoralist stationed at Mt Gambier.
(See 'The South Australian Frontier and its Legacies' for more details.)
Notes:
LocationAccuracy: Close

People involved

Sources

Event mentions

  • Killing of Maryann and Ngunnirri Burka by William Carter, 13 July 1844
    13 Jul 1844 — Wortappa, Hallett’s station, near Mt Bryan
    At Wortappa, John Hallett’s sheep station near Mt Bryan, a group of five Europeans led by William Moore Carter made a dawn raid on a group of Aboriginal people who had taken some sheep. Two Aboriginal people were killed, and another two injured. On hearing of the confrontation Governor Grey ordered an investigation. Spratt, Smith and Pritt were committed on the charge of feloniously killing Ngunnirri Burka and Mary Ann. Despite the determined efforts of government officials, Carter escaped arrest, aided by Edward Leake, a pastoralist stationed at Mt Gambier.
    (See 'The South Australian Frontier and its Legacies' for more details.)
    Source: Robert Foster, Skye Krichauff and Amanda Nettelbeck, The South Australian Frontier and its Legacies, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 2024, http://ua.edu.au/south-australian-frontier