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NameAboriginal Raids on Colonists On The South Road
DescriptionGuerilla style raids and attacks on colonists, livestock and stations on the south road or overland between Sydney and Melbourne (now the Hume Highway). These are raids referenced by Gipps as motivation for increasing Mounted Police presence on the south road.
TypeEvent
Subject indigenous, aboriginal, frontier war
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Number of places16
ContributorDr Bill Pascoe
Creator
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Allow ANPS? No
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Latitude From
Longitude From
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Longitude To
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Date Created (externally)
Added2023-04-11 23:15:07
Updated2023-04-11 23:27:13

🌏 Faithful Massacre

Placename
Broken River, near present Benalla
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.5523
Longitude
145.9814
Start Date
1838-04-11
End Date
1838-04-11

Description

"1. Between the rivers Ovens and Goulburn, a large convoy of sheep and cattle belonging to Mr W. Pitt Faithfull, and under the charge of 15 white men, was attacked by a party of blacks, said to have been 300 strong. Seven of the white men were killed, and the rest, as well as teh whole of the cattle, dispersed in all directions. This occurrence took place about 400 miles from Sydney, and 150 from Port Phillip." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982 Mr Faithfull reported one Aboriginal person had been shot, "...on their [the overlanders] retreat to the drays one of the deceased men (Bentley) fired in the air, wishing to intimidate them, but finding this ineffectual he fired with ball and shot one of the natives dead. They immediately rushed upon him and killed him." W.P. Faithfull to Col. Sec. 8 May 1838, p328 'Thomas Bentley shot one of the attackers dead' in in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
Franklin, Jane This Errant Lady Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2002 https://www.nla.gov.au/sites/default/files/this_errant_lady.pdf
Livestock
A large convoy. "The blacks have taken away from the drays goods to the value of £150. Besides the loss of 103 sheep which are irrecoverable, there are also 150 head of cattle astray which possibly may be recovered." W.P. Faithfull to Col. Sec. 8 May 1838, p328 'Thomas Bentley shot one of the attackers dead' in in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982
Size of Aboriginal War Party
300
Aboriginal Deaths
1
Colonist Deaths
7

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b2
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Koorakooracup station raid

Placename
Koorakooracup station
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.5735
Longitude
144.7404
Start Date
1838-04-15
End Date
1838-04-15

Description

"2. On the 15th April the cattle station of Mr Samuel Jackson, near Port Phillip, was attacked by about 50 blacks, some of whom had firearms; about 50 sheep were carried away, though some of them were afterwards recovered." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jackson-samuel-2266
Livestock
50
Size of Aboriginal War Party
50
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b3
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Mooroolbark station raid

Placename
Mooroolbark station
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.7893
Longitude
145.3102
Start Date
1838-04-22
End Date
1838-04-22

Description

"3. On the 22nd April the station of Mr John Gardiner, near Port Phillip, was attacked by a party of blacks, some of whom had firearms; they were, however, repulsed and two of them who were subsequently taken were recognized as having been under the instruction of Mr Langhorne, the missionary at Port Phillip. No lives were lost, though shots were fired on both sides." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
"He bought a house at Gardiner’s Creek and established a cattle station at Mooroolbark, east of Melbourne, where he was joined by his brother David and his cousin William Fletcher." Gardiner Family Papers, NLA. Gardiner was one of the original overlanders having driven stock from the Murrumbidgee https://www.nla.gov.au/sites/default/files/blogs/m_395-396_gardiner_family.pdf
Livestock
0
Size of Aboriginal War Party
?
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b4
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid at Pentland Hills

Placename
Bachus Marsh or Pentland Hills
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.665
Longitude
144.4096
Start Date
1838-04-22
End Date
1838-05-06

Description

"4. On or about the same day a flock of 520 sheep, belonging to Mr Kenneth Clarke, was driven away from his station to a distance of seven or eight miles by the blacks. All were, however, recovered, with the exception of 43." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

DateNote
estimate
Location Source
Either Bachus Marsh -37.6754, 144.4353 or Pentland Hills -37.6644, 144.3866 so perhaps on the border twixt these two neighbouring areas -37.6650, 144.4096 "On the 29th November [1836] Mr. Clarke started with the sheep for where Bacchus Marsh now is, where he remained until the beginning of 1838, when he decided to occupy and reside at the locality called by him, and since known as, the Pentland Hills, where he had already formed out-stations. Mount Blackwood, at that time, was called Clarke's Big Hill. Mr. Clarke gave up the country about the Marsh to Captain Bacchus and son, who had brought sheep from Tasmania, and were then encamped at the Parete Creek." Early History Of The Colony Of Victoria https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1301991h.html
Livestock
520, all but 43 recovered
Size of Aboriginal War Party
?
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b5
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid at Bellerine

Placename
Bellerine Ward, Geelong
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-38.1999
Longitude
144.5364
Start Date
1838-05-06
End Date
1838-05-06

Description

"5. On the 6th May the flocks of Dr Jonathan Clerke were attacked by a party of blacks, who had dogs with them, and 20 sheep were carried off." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
It's unclear where Clerke's flocks were but he is typically associated with Geelong, and was Alderman for the Bellerine Ward. See https://www.latrobesociety.org.au/LaTrobeana/LaTrobeanaV17n3.pdf and https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/common/Public/Documents/8d97c1c5405a0b1-thematic7sep20218lr.pdf
Livestock
20
Size of Aboriginal War Party
?
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b6
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Killing at Sutton Grange

Placename
Sutton Grange Station at Mount Alexander
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.9891
Longitude
144.3588
Start Date
1838-05-19
End Date
1838-05-19

Description

"6. On the 19th May, Thomas Jones, a servant in the employ of Mr Bowman, was murdered by the blacks, about 60 miles from Port Phillip. On the preceding day a flock of sheep had been driven away from Mr Bowman's station, though all were afterwards recovered, with the exception of four." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
Sutton Grange Station at Mount Alexander. "In late March 1838, William Bowman took up land at Mount Alexander calling it Sutton Grange station. It was located 20 miles northeast of Mount Macedon. Within weeks of arriving at Sutton Grange, William Bowman began having trouble with the local Indigenous people. According to the Melbourne Court Register, 21st April 1838 (2 weeks after the Faithful massacre), Bowman made a sworn statement where he complained the Blacks had intimidated his men to the point he was having trouble making them go out to work.(16)" https://findingmerriman.com.au/merriman/william-bowman-2/
Livestock
a flock, all but 4 recovered
Size of Aboriginal War Party
?
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
1

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b7
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Barwon River Campaign

Placename
Barwon Creeks
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-38.1384
Longitude
144.2342
Start Date
1838-05-22
End Date
1838-05-22

Description

"7. On or about the 22nd May all the stations on the Barwon creeks, extending to a distance of more than 30 miles from Geelong (on the western side Port Phillip,) were attacked, for the second time, by a party of about 60 blacks. Several huts were plundered; one flock of sheep was driven to a distance of seven or eight miles, three were killed and 25 wounded. From another station 16 lambs were carried off, and from a third, six sheep and six lambs; and other mischief is reported to have been done to a considerable extent." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
"Multiple stations along the Barwon River and it's creeks up to 30 miles from Geelong." in Gipps' description
Livestock
total 56 killed or wounded
Size of Aboriginal War Party
60
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b8
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Evading capture

Placename
Geelong
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-38.155
Longitude
144.3559
Start Date
1838-05-22
End Date
1838-07-21

Description

"June 1. A black man, supposed to have been engaged in a murder committed some months ago, near Geelong, was drowned in an attempt to escape from the persons who were in pursuit of him."

Extended Data

DateNote
estimate
Location Source
"Near Geelong" in Gipps description
Livestock
0
Size of Aboriginal War Party
1
Aboriginal Deaths
1
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2b9
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Supposed murder of white woman

Placename
Between Melbourne and Geelong
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.9678
Longitude
144.5591
Start Date
1838-05-22
End Date
1838-07-21

Description

"N.B. A great number of less important outrages have come indirectly to the knowledge of the Government, or been reported to the newspapers. And it is said that a white woman, the wife of a soldier, has been murdered between Melbourne and Geelong, though no official account has been received of it." pp356-357 Gipps, Sir George 'Aboriginal attacks summarised: Enclosure in dispatch from Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg, 21 July 1838' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

DateNote
estimate
Livestock
0
Size of Aboriginal War Party
?
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
1

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2ba
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Man killed at Faithfull's station

Placename
Oxley Flats
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.3508
Longitude
146.3249
Start Date
1838-08-16
End Date
1838-08-16

Description

"James Crossley, overseer to Mr W.P. Faithfull, states:... About two miles distant from the head station we found blood on the roadside, and traced where the deceased had been dragged to a waterhole about fifty yards from the where he fell... On examination there were four severe tomahawk wounds on his head (either of which was sufficient to cause instant death) and one slight one, beside two wounds on the left arm, and one apparently caused by a spear on the right, and his belly was opened and his bowels taken out." p334 W.P. Faithfull to Col. Sec., 17 August 1838 'Another of Faithfull's men killed' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
1

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2bb
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid on Mr Mollison's station

Placename
Pyalong
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.11819743
Longitude
144.8592839
Start Date
1838-04-13
End Date
1838-04-13

Description

"About last Sunday week I was informed that the blacks had visited a hut of Mr Mollison's, that they had pillaged it and were coming on to my station... I then went on to Mr Mollison's place with this man to see what had taken place there, and found everything was taken but the bedding. I saw a great number of natives about." p335 Melbourne Court Register, 21 April 1838 'Aboriginal attacks on Bowman's station' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
Mr Mollison and brothers had stations at Pyalong and Coliban, near Kilmore. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8560093

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2bc
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raids on Bowman's station

Placename
Sutton Grange Station
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.988
Longitude
144.359
Start Date
1838-04-25
End Date
1838-04-14

Description

"William Bowman being sworn states,... I have been there about five weeks and during that time the black natives have committed several depredations upon my people. About a week after my arrival they threw a spear at one of my shepherds and struck the cap off his head... I... found the natives at my place, who ran off as soon as they saw me. They had taken my mens bedding away... They [Bowman's men] were so much alarmed on this occasion that I could hardly get them to go out to the station again. I cannot say that I should know of any of the blacks except one who on one occassion attempted to stop one of the shepherds, but was prevented by another shepherd at a distance calling out." p335 Aboriginal attacks on Bowman's station in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
"In 1837 William Bowman took up Sutton Grange Station at Mount Alexander close to present-day Castlemaine and had as his neighbour, William Henry Yaldwin of Barfold station near Kyneton." https://findingmerriman.com.au/merriman/william-bowman-2/

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2bd
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Shepherd speared at Bowman's station

Placename
Sutton Grange Station
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.98921745
Longitude
144.3586254
Start Date
1838-04-19
End Date
1838-04-19

Description

"About half a mile from the hut we found James lying dead. We found to large spears sticking in his body, and stomach cut open and th inside taken away. His clothes were torn and his hat taken away. He had also several severe cuts on th head with a blunt instrument. I have no doubt Jones was killed by blacks... A few blacks have been seen about the station but they did not come near... The blacks have been very troublesome lately. The day before the murder was committed they took a flock away from one of the shepherds, and when the flock was found the day following there were four sheep short. Also on the same day several blacks came to one of the huts and took the bedding and a sheep which was kept at the door for killing. I do not know any of the blacks who have committed these depredations." p335 Shepherd speared on Bowman's station in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
"In 1837 William Bowman took up Sutton Grange Station at Mount Alexander close to present-day Castlemaine and had as his neighbour, William Henry Yaldwin of Barfold station near Kyneton." https://findingmerriman.com.au/merriman/william-bowman-2/

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2be
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid on Yaldwyn's station

Placename
Barfold Station
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.11270834
Longitude
144.5121982
Start Date
1838-06-09
End Date
1838-06-09

Description

"John Coppock, superintendant of the property of Mr W.H. Yaldwyn, being sworn, states: On the 9th of the present month, one of the men in the employ of Mr Yaldwyn named Lutter came to me from an out-station. I was employed to see him and asked him what brought him in. He said there had been the devil to pay, that the blacks had taken his flock of sheep and another of Mr Bowman's, a neighbouring settler, and that the blacks had pursued him and made leave the run. "Upon receiving this information I immediately assembled three men and took them around to search for the sheep. We went to the run where they had been taken away, where I found several carcases of sheep, some skinned, some cut up and a great many totally destroyed." [following this, when they came upon the camp, there was an exchange of fire and spears, with 'seven or eight blacks dead'] p336-337 Melbourne Court Register, 29 June 1838 'Several Aborigines killed on W.H. Yaldwyn's station in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
Yaldwyn owned Barfold Station near Kyneton.
Livestock
20 sheep killed in at least in one location, more in another, and more driven off
Size of Aboriginal War Party
50
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
0

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2bf
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid on Rutledge and Forster's station

Placename
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-37.026
Longitude
145.107
Start Date
1838-11-12
End Date
1838-11-12

Description

"I beg leave to inform you that upon Monday the 12th inst., we have been attacked here by at least 400 blacks. They have killed a number of sheep and one man, an assigned servant of Doctor Forster's, ... George Mould... The body has been awfully mangled and it was with the greatest exertion we got from the place. The blacks are still upon the river." p340 John Rutledge to William Lonsdale, 18 November 1838 'Attack on Rutledge & Forster's station on the Goulburn River' in Cannon, Michael (ed.) Historical Records of Victoria Vol 2A The Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-1839, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office 1982

Extended Data

Location Source
"Mr. Rutledge was the owner of Gidleigh Station, near Bungendore" https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/rutledge-william-forster-888 However, this source specifies Goulburn river. We are taking the point on the Goulburn River intersecting the Hume Highway, but it may have been anywhere along this long river. More detail needed.
Livestock
40 sheeps and lambs
Size of Aboriginal War Party
400
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
1

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2c0
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41

🌏 Raid on Mackay's second station

Placename
Warrouley
Type
Other
3D Viewer Google Maps Trove Search

Location, Dates

Latitude
-36.5072167
Longitude
146.587822
Start Date
1840-05-01
End Date
1840-05-31

Description

"The blacks were not numerous, but very hostile. They murdered a number of white men and destroyed a great many cattle and horses. In May 1840, 21 of them, all armed with guns, besides their native weapons, attacked my station in my absence. They murdered one of my servants and burned my huts and stores, and all my wheat. Tea was worth at that time in Melbourne 20 per chest, and flour 100 per ton. Four horses, each worth 100, were killed, and only seven head of cattle, out of nearly 3,000, were left alive on the run. One hundred and eighty head exclusive of those found dead were totally lost. The rest were recovered, at such an expenditure of money and of personal energy, as have left me an invalid for life, and to this day comparatively a poor man." pp187-189 George Edward Mackay to His Excellency C. J. La Trobe, Esq. in Thomas Francis Bride (ed) Letters from Victorian Pioneers Melbourne: Librarian of the Public Library Victoria, 1898 https://archive.org/stream/lettersfromvicto00publiala/lettersfromvicto00publiala_djvu.txt This was a 3 day seige, see https://findingmerriman.com.au/merriman/timeline/merriman-holds-george-mackays-hut-in-3-days-seige/

Extended Data

Location Source
"I found that Chisholm had -taken possession of Myrrhee, and I settled at Warrouley, which I still hold"
Livestock
Nearly 3000 head of cattle and 5 horses.
Size of Aboriginal War Party
21
Aboriginal Deaths
0
Colonist Deaths
1

Sources

TLCMap ID
t1c2c1
Created At
2023-04-11 23:25:29
Updated At
2023-12-11 17:49:41
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