Bathurst Massacre or ‘Potato field incident’

Date: 1 May 1824 – 31 May 1824
Place: Kelso
Suttor wrote that: a foreigner named Antonio had cultivated a patch of land on the Macquarie River, opposite the town of Bathurst. Among other things he grew some potatoes. One day, as a large number of the black tribe of the place came by, Antonio, moved by the spirit of good nature, gave some of his tubers to these people. Next day, they having appreciated the gift, appeared at the potato patch and commenced to help themselves. This was not to Antonio’s liking, who roused the people of the settlement on his behalf. They rushed down and attacked the blacks, some of whom were killed and others maimed.' One of Windradyne’s descendants, Uncle Bill Allen Junior, relates today that this was Windradyne’s family, ‘shot down in front of him’.

People involved

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Sources

  • Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, pp. 44–5; Uncle Bill Allen Junior, interview with Stephen Gapps, 15 September 2020

Event mentions

  • Bathurst Massacre or ‘Potato field incident’
    1 May 1824 – 31 May 1824 — Kelso
    Suttor wrote that: a foreigner named Antonio had cultivated a patch of land on the Macquarie River, opposite the town of Bathurst. Among other things he grew some potatoes. One day, as a large number of the black tribe of the place came by, Antonio, moved by the spirit of good nature, gave some of his tubers to these people. Next day, they having appreciated the gift, appeared at the potato patch and commenced to help themselves. This was not to Antonio’s liking, who roused the people of the settlement on his behalf. They rushed down and attacked the blacks, some of whom were killed and others maimed.' One of Windradyne’s descendants, Uncle Bill Allen Junior, relates today that this was Windradyne’s family, ‘shot down in front of him’.
    Source: Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, pp. 44–5; Uncle Bill Allen Junior, interview with Stephen Gapps, 15 September 2020