Raid and killing at Mackay's station

Date: 29 May 1840 – 30 May 1840
Pastoral station: Mackay
Event type: pursuit
Direct violence: Yes
Aboriginal group, armed with guns, raid Mackay's station. Horses killed, hut burned down and wheat destroyed in a 2 day siege. According to news reports the group included 'Jacky, Winberri and Billy Hamilton'. According to Dr Mackay's statement to Chief Protector Robinson, the leader was Merriman.

People involved

  • Jagga Jagga (aka Jackey Jackey, Jacky Jacky, Jakka Jakka) — Resistance leader — Wurundjeri Willam, Kulin Nation
  • Merriman (aka Merryman) — Resistance leader, headman — Bangerang / Yorta Yorta / Waveroo / Jaitmatang / Dhudhuroa
  • Mr. Mackay
  • Winberri (aka Windberri, Winberrie, Wenberi, Winberree, Tinbury) — Resistance leader, head warrior under Ngurungaeta Bejeman — Wurundjeri Woiwurrung, Kulin Nation
  • Yabbi (aka Billy Hamilton, Yabbee) — Ngurungaeta, Resistance leader and diplomat — Taungurung, Kulin Nation

Sources

  • PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462
  • COUNTRY NEWS. (1840, July 7). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36852259
  • ERRORS OF THE PRESS. (1840, June 24). The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31725175
  • LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (1840, August 20). Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser (Vic. : 1839 - 1845), p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228130498
  • SYDNEY. (1840, September 18). Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620018

Event mentions

  • Murder at Mackay's station
    8 Jun 1840 – 8 Dec 1840 — pursuit
    Raid and murder at Mackay's station
    People: Jacky, Winberry, and Billy Hamilton
    Source: PORT PHILLIP NEWS. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 8 December 1840, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71620462
  • Murder of Dr Mackay's hut keeper on the Ovens
    23 Jun 1840 — Ovens River — killing
    Aboriginal people murdered a hut keeper of Dr Mackay's on the Ovens.
    People: the aboriginals
    Source: COUNTRY NEWS. (1840, July 7). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36852259
  • Burning and destruction at Dr Mackay's on the Ovens
    23 Jun 1840 — Ovens River — burning; property destruction
    Aboriginal people killed three horses, burnt down the hut, and destroyed wheat and other property at Dr Mackay's on the Ovens.
    People: the aboriginals
    Source: COUNTRY NEWS. (1840, July 7). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36852259
  • Murder of Dr Mackay's shepherd at the Ovens River
    24 Jun 1840 — head of the Ovens River — killing
    Aboriginal people committed another murder on the head of the Ovens River at Dr. Mackay's station.
    People: the blacks
    Source: ERRORS OF THE PRESS. (1840, June 24). The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31725175
  • Attack on Dr Mackay's head station
    24 Jun 1840 — head station on the Ovens River — attack; shooting; property destruction
    Aboriginal people attacked Dr. Mackay's head station, fired on the hut, and later killed horses and cattle.
    People: they | seven or eight men and one woman
    Source: ERRORS OF THE PRESS. (1840, June 24). The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31725175
  • Attack on Mr. Mackay's station
    20 Aug 1840 — raid; property destruction
    Aboriginal people attacked Mr. Mackay's station and destroyed horses, sheep, and other property.
    People: The blacks | Mr. Mackay
    Source: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (1840, August 20). Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser (Vic. : 1839 - 1845), p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228130498
  • Attack on Mr Mackay's station
    18 Sep 1840 — raid; destruction of property; retaliation
    Aboriginal people attacked Mr Mackay's station and destroyed horses, sheep, and property.
    People: the blacks
    Source: SYDNEY. (1840, September 18). Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620018