Mapping Australian history and culture
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| Name | Central Western Australia War and Resistance |
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| Description | Events in this conflict will be added as Australian Wars and Resistance research continues. |
| Type | Other |
| Content Warning | |
| Contributor | Dr Bill Pascoe |
| Entries | 8 |
| Allow ANPS? | No |
| Added to System | 2025-08-11 10:26:21 |
| Updated in System | 2025-11-27 23:20:21 |
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This massacre of Ngaanyatjarra people occurred after hunters killed a camel that was part of a prospecting expedition. An estimated 4 Aboriginal men were killed and 2 prospectors. The event is well attested in Indigenous Knowledge of the area and depicted in many artworks.
The location may not be accurate.
Bennet, D T, Chamber, J, Shepherd, D Circus Waters Massacre Canberra: National Museum Australia, 2012 2012.0009.0001 https://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/icons/images/kaui2/index.html#/home?usr=CE
Jackson, N N, Chambers, J Y Tutjurangara Massacre (Circus Water Rockhole Massacre) in Tjanpi Desert Weavers at Desert Mob Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council, September 15, 2018 https://www.npywc.org.au/news/tjanpi-desert-weavers-at-desert-mob/
The date 'late 1930s' and the information 'I recall hearing that more than four people were killed, though a painting by Dorcas Tinamayi Bennett depicting the massacre includes a caption stating that three or four Wati were killed, along with two members of the prospecting party.' was provided in a private communication.
When returning to camp, a group of prospectors including Slavin and Oregon noticed Aboriginal men attempting to ambush it. The article says, "Beyond venturing the information that he believes his matesopened fire on the hostile blacks, Slavin prefers to leave it to the imagination of his listeners to fill in the blankspaces" (p 1 Geraldton Guardian, 10 Jul 1926). Their four horses were killed, forcing them to walk back to Meekathara.
The year 1896 is estimated from the article of 1926 stating it occurred '30 years ago'.
IN SEARCH OF GOLD. (1926, July 10). Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928), p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67218966
In January 1911 a party of three drovers, George Shoesmith, James Thompson and an Aboriginal stockman known as 'Chinaman', were killed by Aboriginal people at Well 37. In September 1911, Sergeant R.H. Pilmer led a police punitive expedition to find the culprits and ensure the stock route remained open. The police made no arrests, but the expedition was considered a success after Pilmer acknowledged killing at least 10 Aboriginal people. Later newspaper reports, (Daily News, May 21, 1912, p 8) put the figure at 14. Pilmer wrote in his diary: 'The most exciting and disastrous incident of the whole journey happened on 16 November while the party was spelling the camels at Well 46. The men were whiling away their time by reading or doing odd jobs when they were suddenly attacked by a band of 25 Aborigines. Fourteen Aborigines formed an advance party, and each armed with two whackaburras they came running down a gravelly slope towards the camp. Going outside the camp Sergeant Pilmer called and motioned them to sit down, but they still came on, it being evident they were trying to get close quarters with the police. The invaders reached the camp but were not close enough to use their weapons when the police opened fire. Six natives fell dead while another was killed about twenty yards away. Three were wounded but they escaped with the others who immediately took to their heels' (Pilmer cited in Clement, 1989b, pp 130-151).
'Shooting Aborigines', Daily News, May 21, 1912, p 8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79898128/7816557; Clement 1989b, pp.130-151; 'Stock Route Murders, Fourteen Dispersed,' Kalgoorlie Miner, December 9, 1911, p 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91329964