Massacre
In his 1887 Australian Stories Retold W H Suttor recounted a massacre at Billywillinga. Here, around 16 miles to the northwest of Bathurst, according to Suttor ‘a camp of blacks had been established’ near a group of stock station buildings. Suttor describes how ‘a party of soldiers was despatched to deal with those at this camp’. The soldiers began ‘negotiations’, which were ‘apparently friendly, but really treacherous’. As he wrote 'Food was prepared, and was placed on the ground within musket range of the station buildings. The blacks were invited to come in for it. Unsuspectingly they did come, principally women and children. As they gathered up the white men’s presents they were shot down by a brutal volley, without regard to age or sex.'
Suttor’s is the only known historical account. While questions remain as to whether soldiers were involved (and would indeed use these tactics) – and whether Suttor may have re-versioned or even manufactured a story based on other attacks on Aboriginal people that occurred later, elsewhere on the frontier – his narrative certainly fleshes out some of the many claims of ‘indiscriminate’ killings at this time.
Suttor’s is the only known historical account. While questions remain as to whether soldiers were involved (and would indeed use these tactics) – and whether Suttor may have re-versioned or even manufactured a story based on other attacks on Aboriginal people that occurred later, elsewhere on the frontier – his narrative certainly fleshes out some of the many claims of ‘indiscriminate’ killings at this time.
People involved
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Sources
- W H Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, pp. 45–46
Event mentions
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Massacre1 Jan 1824 – 31 Dec 1824 — BillywillingaIn his 1887 Australian Stories Retold W H Suttor recounted a massacre at Billywillinga. Here, around 16 miles to the northwest of Bathurst, according to Suttor ‘a camp of blacks had been established’ near a group of stock station buildings. Suttor describes how ‘a party of soldiers was despatched to deal with those at this camp’. The soldiers began ‘negotiations’, which were ‘apparently friendly, but really treacherous’. As he wrote 'Food was prepared, and was placed on the ground within musket range of the station buildings. The blacks were invited to come in for it. Unsuspectingly they did come, principally women and children. As they gathered up the white men’s presents they were shot down by a brutal volley, without regard to age or sex.'
Suttor’s is the only known historical account. While questions remain as to whether soldiers were involved (and would indeed use these tactics) – and whether Suttor may have re-versioned or even manufactured a story based on other attacks on Aboriginal people that occurred later, elsewhere on the frontier – his narrative certainly fleshes out some of the many claims of ‘indiscriminate’ killings at this time.Source: W H Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, pp. 45–46