Massacre at Boonall Station, MacIntyre River region

Date: 12 Sep 1847 – 30 Sep 1847
Place: Boonall Station, MacIntyre River region
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Aboriginal people killed James Marks's son, 'Johnny', on 10 September 1847 in retaliation for his shooting and killing an Aboriginal messenger 'boy' at 'Goodar' station on the Weir River a week earlier. James Marks gathered a posse of settlers and stockmen and rode south to 'Boonall' station on the MacIntyre River where they 'found forty Aboriginal people encamped in the bend of the river' (Telfer, 1980, p 39). It appears that they shot them all and then burnt the campsite. There is no indication that the Aboriginal group was involved in the killing of Marks's son (Telfer, 1980, p 39). This was the first of several revenge killings and massacres led by Marks over more than six months in reprisal for the killing of his son.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Bigambul or Gawambaraay
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40

People involved

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Sources

  • Bligh, CCL, Gwydir to CCCL, 10 Jan 1849; SRNSW, 2/7634; Watts, 1901, p 20; Webb, 1922, pp 7-12; Telfer, 1980, p 39; Copland, 1990, pp 52-54.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Boonall Station, MacIntyre River region
    12 Sep 1847 – 30 Sep 1847 — Boonall Station, MacIntyre River region — massacre
    Aboriginal people killed James Marks's son, 'Johnny', on 10 September 1847 in retaliation for his shooting and killing an Aboriginal messenger 'boy' at 'Goodar' station on the Weir River a week earlier. James Marks gathered a posse of settlers and stockmen and rode south to 'Boonall' station on the MacIntyre River where they 'found forty Aboriginal people encamped in the bend of the river' (Telfer, 1980, p 39). It appears that they shot them all and then burnt the campsite. There is no indication that the Aboriginal group was involved in the killing of Marks's son (Telfer, 1980, p 39). This was the first of several revenge killings and massacres led by Marks over more than six months in reprisal for the killing of his son.
    Source: Bligh, CCL, Gwydir to CCCL, 10 Jan 1849; SRNSW, 2/7634; Watts, 1901, p 20; Webb, 1922, pp 7-12; Telfer, 1980, p 39; Copland, 1990, pp 52-54.