Massacre at Warroo, Maranoa Pastoral District

Date: 1 Jan 1848 – 31 Dec 1848
Place: Warroo, Maranoa Pastoral District
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
According William Telfer (1980, p 71), after a stockman named Tierney was killed by the Bigambul at Warroo station on the banks of the Balonne River, a number of 'white men were cooped up and besieged for a week in the hut without ammunition or provisions...the whites Escaped at night it being very dark and they made their way to the head Station down the other side of the River the blacks never missed them till next day the aboriginals Encamped there fisching (sic) and killing some of the Cattle and having a Great Feast to celebrate their victory but the whites only went for help returning the Second night after leaving with twenty five men well armed and plenty ammunition also having as allies the tribe of aboriginals on the western Side of the River to the number of 1 hundred and fifty warriors the Enemy were encamped in fancied Security having no sentries went to sleep from which they were surprised and shot down like so many sheep if they Excaped (sic) from the whites they were masacred (sic) by the savage tribe of aboriginals very few Escaped they said there were fully two hundred slain those were all buried in one large pit in front of the old hut the large mound was there when i (sic) passed that way covered by green grass...' (Telfer, 1980, p 71). The discrepancy between 25 colonists with 150 Aboriginal allies, and 200 claimed victims, suggests this might be an exaggeration, and perhaps about 100 people were killed.


The location 'Warroo' should not be confused with another historical pastoral station of the same name near Stanthorpe. Telfer is clear the location is the banks of the Balonne. An advertisement from 1859 describes a run including 'Burgurrah' and 'Warroo' on the Balonne near Surat (SMH, 27 Sep 1859, p 8). A 1940s map of Queensland pastoral runs marks 'Warro' just north of North Burgurrah, both being on the Balonne north of St George (Robinson, 194?).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Bigambul from north of the Macintyre
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 100

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Warroo, Maranoa Pastoral District
    1 Jan 1848 – 31 Dec 1848 — Warroo, Maranoa Pastoral District — massacre
    According William Telfer (1980, p 71), after a stockman named Tierney was killed by the Bigambul at Warroo station on the banks of the Balonne River, a number of 'white men were cooped up and besieged for a week in the hut without ammunition or provisions...the whites Escaped at night it being very dark and they made their way to the head Station down the other side of the River the blacks never missed them till next day the aboriginals Encamped there fisching (sic) and killing some of the Cattle and having a Great Feast to celebrate their victory but the whites only went for help returning the Second night after leaving with twenty five men well armed and plenty ammunition also having as allies the tribe of aboriginals on the western Side of the River to the number of 1 hundred and fifty warriors the Enemy were encamped in fancied Security having no sentries went to sleep from which they were surprised and shot down like so many sheep if they Excaped (sic) from the whites they were masacred (sic) by the savage tribe of aboriginals very few Escaped they said there were fully two hundred slain those were all buried in one large pit in front of the old hut the large mound was there when i (sic) passed that way covered by green grass...' (Telfer, 1980, p 71). The discrepancy between 25 colonists with 150 Aboriginal allies, and 200 claimed victims, suggests this might be an exaggeration, and perhaps about 100 people were killed.


    The location 'Warroo' should not be confused with another historical pastoral station of the same name near Stanthorpe. Telfer is clear the location is the banks of the Balonne. An advertisement from 1859 describes a run including 'Burgurrah' and 'Warroo' on the Balonne near Surat (SMH, 27 Sep 1859, p 8). A 1940s map of Queensland pastoral runs marks 'Warro' just north of North Burgurrah, both being on the Balonne north of St George (Robinson, 194?).
    Source: Telfer, 1980, pp 17-18, 71; Collins, 2002, pp 18-22; SMH, 27 Sep 1859, p 8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28629690; Robinson, 194?, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-574759975