Massacre at Talavera Station, Maranoa Pastoral District
William Telfer, a young stockman visiting the Balonne River region in 1858 heard from Constable Duane of Tamworth who was formerly stationed at Surat in 1849 of 'a fight with the Blacks' at Talavera station on the Balonne River. '[T]he blacks made a good stand but were put to rout losing their Chief (Willari) who was shot with about fifty others...' (Telfer, 1980, p 42). According to Collins (2002, p 42), Crown Lands Commissioner Jack Durbin and a posse of stockmen were involved. According to Telfer (Telfer, 1980, p 42), in the battle 'several of the whites were speared none dangerously.' This would suggest that the battle was probably an ambush.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Mandandanji or Bigambul or Wirray Wirray or Kogai
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 50
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Mandandanji or Bigambul or Wirray Wirray or Kogai
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 50
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Talavera Station, Maranoa Pastoral District20 Jul 1849 – 31 Jul 1849 — Talavera Station, Maranoa Pastoral District — massacreWilliam Telfer, a young stockman visiting the Balonne River region in 1858 heard from Constable Duane of Tamworth who was formerly stationed at Surat in 1849 of 'a fight with the Blacks' at Talavera station on the Balonne River. '[T]he blacks made a good stand but were put to rout losing their Chief (Willari) who was shot with about fifty others...' (Telfer, 1980, p 42). According to Collins (2002, p 42), Crown Lands Commissioner Jack Durbin and a posse of stockmen were involved. According to Telfer (Telfer, 1980, p 42), in the battle 'several of the whites were speared none dangerously.' This would suggest that the battle was probably an ambush.