Massacre at Lakefield Track

Date: 1 May 1896 – 31 May 1896
Place: Lakefield Track
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Following the Aboriginal killing of Macdonald (or Donald) Mackenzie, owner of Lakefield station at the head of the saltwater on the Normanby River, 75 km north east of Laura, a special train transported detachments of native police from Cooktown, Musgrave, and Maytown to Deighton and then by track to Lakefield station (Queenslander, May 9, 1896, p 871). On the track they 'came across the dead bodies of some blacks who had evidently died of poison.' Constable David Hardie surmised that they had 'used the arsenic stolen after the murder from Mackenzie's house, believing it to be baking powder' (Queenslander, June 6, 1896, p 1063).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

People involved

This data has not yet been gathered. Research work is ongoing. To help, please consider donating or contact us to volunteer or about setting up research projects in your area.

Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Lakefield Track
    1 May 1896 – 31 May 1896 — Lakefield Track — massacre
    Following the Aboriginal killing of Macdonald (or Donald) Mackenzie, owner of Lakefield station at the head of the saltwater on the Normanby River, 75 km north east of Laura, a special train transported detachments of native police from Cooktown, Musgrave, and Maytown to Deighton and then by track to Lakefield station (Queenslander, May 9, 1896, p 871). On the track they 'came across the dead bodies of some blacks who had evidently died of poison.' Constable David Hardie surmised that they had 'used the arsenic stolen after the murder from Mackenzie's house, believing it to be baking powder' (Queenslander, June 6, 1896, p 1063).
    Source: Queenslander, May 9, 1896, p 871 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2577663; May 16, 1896, p 917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2577709; June 6, 1896, p 1063 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20448781/2577856.