Site NameStapleton Siding
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place NamePerrmadjin
Language Group, Nation or PeopleKungarakany, Warray
Present State/TerritoryNT
Colony/State/Territory at the timeSA
Police DistrictHowley, Yam Creek, Pine Creek
Latitude-13.179
Longitude131.041
DateBetween 1 Jul 1895 and 30 Jul 1895
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed80
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsServant(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
Transport
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedPoison
NarrativeJoe McGuinness (1991, p 8) recalled: 'The majority of the tribe (Kungarakany)... about one hundred people, became victims of poisoned damper... at a railway siding known as Stapleton... weed-killing powder... was supposedly mistaken for baking powder and added to the flour in preparing damper. Those who ate the poisoned damper became violently ill before their death'. This is one of at least three poisoning incidents suffered by the Kungarakan people.
SourcesMcGuinness, 1991, p 8; Murgatroyd, 2001, p 6; Toohey, 1981, p 39; Kungarakan Culture and Education Association: https://kungarakan.org.au/language/ (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***