Massacre at Blackfellows Creek, Upper Palmer River

Date: 1 Jan 1875 – 31 Dec 1875
Place: Blackfellows Creek, Upper Palmer River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In a letter from a miner, dated 'Upper Palmer River April 16' and published in the Brisbane Courier and The Queenslander, he describes his camp at a place known locally as 'Blackfellows Creek'. 'To my enquiry as to why the locality was so named, the answer is that not long since "the niggers got a dressing there"...There have been, certainly, "dressings"...dealt out in this part of the country to the blacks.'.... 'Be that as it may, however, the Golgotha on which we are at present camped would well repay a visit from any number of phrenological students in search of a skull, or of anatomical professors in want of a "subject"' (Brisbane Courier, May 1, 1876, p 3). According to historian Jonathan Richards, in this incident, former Sub inspector DW Uhr from the native police, led the attacking party of miners.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Kokomini
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 10

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Blackfellows Creek, Upper Palmer River
    1 Jan 1875 – 31 Dec 1875 — Blackfellows Creek, Upper Palmer River — massacre
    In a letter from a miner, dated 'Upper Palmer River April 16' and published in the Brisbane Courier and The Queenslander, he describes his camp at a place known locally as 'Blackfellows Creek'. 'To my enquiry as to why the locality was so named, the answer is that not long since "the niggers got a dressing there"...There have been, certainly, "dressings"...dealt out in this part of the country to the blacks.'.... 'Be that as it may, however, the Golgotha on which we are at present camped would well repay a visit from any number of phrenological students in search of a skull, or of anatomical professors in want of a "subject"' (Brisbane Courier, May 1, 1876, p 3). According to historian Jonathan Richards, in this incident, former Sub inspector DW Uhr from the native police, led the attacking party of miners.
    Source: Brisbane Courier, May 1, 1876, p 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1400591; The Queenslander, May 6, 1876, p 23 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18342317; Richards, 2008, p 264; Orsted-Jensen 2011, p 72.