Massacre at Cooninghera Waterhole, Diamantina River
The massacre was in reprisal for killing of the station cook 'who was guilty of rape.' Linguist Luise Hercus recorded an account of the massacre in the 1960s from Ben Murray, the nephew of a survivor, Rib Bone Billy. It took place when a large number of Mindiri and Wardamba people had gathered for a ceremony. 'It made a huge impact on the Aboriginal community' (Hercus, 1977, p 56). Journalist George Farwell was also told of the massacre during his travels along the Birdsville Track in the 1940s. It was one of 'several' and 'no official enquiries were ever held into these massacres which appeared to have been common morality of the day' (Farwell, 1950, p 132).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Mindiri and Wardumba
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Mindiri and Wardumba
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Cooninghera Waterhole, Diamantina River1 Jan 1890 – 28 Dec 1890 — Cooninghera Waterhole, Diamantina River — massacreThe massacre was in reprisal for killing of the station cook 'who was guilty of rape.' Linguist Luise Hercus recorded an account of the massacre in the 1960s from Ben Murray, the nephew of a survivor, Rib Bone Billy. It took place when a large number of Mindiri and Wardamba people had gathered for a ceremony. 'It made a huge impact on the Aboriginal community' (Hercus, 1977, p 56). Journalist George Farwell was also told of the massacre during his travels along the Birdsville Track in the 1940s. It was one of 'several' and 'no official enquiries were ever held into these massacres which appeared to have been common morality of the day' (Farwell, 1950, p 132).