Massacre at Wombunderry Waterhole, Cooper Creek
According to historian Timothy Bottoms (2013, pp 65-66), some time in 1872 stockman Maloney, aged 18, who was one of two stockmen on Alex Reid's station at Wombunderry, was killed when fishing in one of the tributaries of Cooper's Creek by Birria people for shooting one of their dogs. Richard Welford of Welford Downs, who had arrived from England in 1869, was also killed in 1872. A stockman rode to Charleville to report the death of Welford. Meanwhile, John Costello send news of Maloney's murder to Thargomindah. When sub-inspector Gilmour and a detachment of native police arrived at the station and found Maloney's body in the creek, they shot an entire camp of Kungkari at Wombunderry waterhole.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Kungkari
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Kungkari
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Wombunderry Waterhole, Cooper Creek1 Jan 1872 – 31 Dec 1872 — Wombunderry Waterhole, Cooper Creek — massacreAccording to historian Timothy Bottoms (2013, pp 65-66), some time in 1872 stockman Maloney, aged 18, who was one of two stockmen on Alex Reid's station at Wombunderry, was killed when fishing in one of the tributaries of Cooper's Creek by Birria people for shooting one of their dogs. Richard Welford of Welford Downs, who had arrived from England in 1869, was also killed in 1872. A stockman rode to Charleville to report the death of Welford. Meanwhile, John Costello send news of Maloney's murder to Thargomindah. When sub-inspector Gilmour and a detachment of native police arrived at the station and found Maloney's body in the creek, they shot an entire camp of Kungkari at Wombunderry waterhole.