Cullin-La-Ringo massacre
Encyclopedia
The Cullin-La-Ringo massacre, which occurred in central Queensland on 17 October 1861, was the largest massacre
of white settlers by Aborigine
s in Australia.
Of a travelling party led by Horatio Wills
, nineteen of the twenty-five members were murdered on the farming property of Cullin-La-Ringo. The six surviving members included James Baker, Wills' son Thomas Wills
, and two others who were absent, as well as a John Moore who managed to avoid being seen, and who reported the massacre afterwards. Moore was the only white eyewitness to the event.
The party, an enormous settlement train including bullock wagons and more than 10,000 sheep, had set out from Brisbane
eight months earlier to set up a farm at Cullin-La-Ringo, a property formed by amalgamating four blocks of land with a total area of 260 km². The size of the group had attracted much attention from other settlers, as well as the indigenous people.
According to Moore's account, Aborigines had been passing through the camp all day, building up numbers until there were at least 50. Then, without warning, they attacked, murdering all the men, women and children with nulla nullas. The victims defended themselves with pistols and tent poles.
In response, a large group of police, native police and civilians tracked down the suspected murderers, and murdered a further 60 to 70 Aboriginal people before running out of ammunition.
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
of white settlers by Aborigine
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
s in Australia.
Of a travelling party led by Horatio Wills
Horatio Wills
Horatio Spencer Howe Wills , or Horace Wills, was an Australian pastoralist and politician. Born in Sydney, the son of a convict sent to Australia for highway robbery, Wills is notable as being involved in several events in Australian history...
, nineteen of the twenty-five members were murdered on the farming property of Cullin-La-Ringo. The six surviving members included James Baker, Wills' son Thomas Wills
Tom Wills
Thomas Wentworth "Tom" Wills was an Australian all-round sportsman, umpire, coach and administrator who is credited with being a catalyst towards the invention of Australian rules football....
, and two others who were absent, as well as a John Moore who managed to avoid being seen, and who reported the massacre afterwards. Moore was the only white eyewitness to the event.
The party, an enormous settlement train including bullock wagons and more than 10,000 sheep, had set out from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
eight months earlier to set up a farm at Cullin-La-Ringo, a property formed by amalgamating four blocks of land with a total area of 260 km². The size of the group had attracted much attention from other settlers, as well as the indigenous people.
According to Moore's account, Aborigines had been passing through the camp all day, building up numbers until there were at least 50. Then, without warning, they attacked, murdering all the men, women and children with nulla nullas. The victims defended themselves with pistols and tent poles.
In response, a large group of police, native police and civilians tracked down the suspected murderers, and murdered a further 60 to 70 Aboriginal people before running out of ammunition.
Sources
Further reading
- Cullin La Ringo: The triumph and tragedy of Thomas Wills, Les Perrin. http://www.westprint.com.au/Articles%20&%20Stories/cullin_la_ringo.htm