Site NameYork (2)
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupWhadjuk, Ballardong
Present State/TerritoryWA
Colony/State/Territory at the timeWA
Police DistrictYork, Northam
Latitude-31.52
Longitude116.45
DateBetween 1 Jul 1837 and 31 Jul 1837
Attack Time
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed18
Victims Killed Notesmen, women and children
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsMounted Police, Settler(s)
Attackers Killed3
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMusket(s), Breech Loading Rifle(s)
NarrativeAfter the southwest Pinjarra massacre of October 1834 sites of conflict shifted northeast into Whadjuk and Ballardong Aboriginal Noongar country around Northam and York. Lieutenant Bunbury wrote in his journal on 10th July 1836 ‘When I last wrote to you [Family] I was just starting on a journey to the southward to establish a new station at the 'Williams' river which took me five weeks. A few days after my return I was ordered over here [York] with a detachment to mark war upon the Natives, who have been very troublesome lately, robbing farms and committing other depredations, even attempting to spear White people… I hope, however, it will not last very long as the Natives seem inclined to be quiet since I shot a few of them one night’ (Bunbury 1930, p 27). In June 1837 a group speared and killed Isaac Green, a soldier, in retaliation for the shooting of two Ballardong men at York (Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal, July 22, 1837, p 941). On 8 July 1837 Edward Jones and Peter Chidlow were working on a property called Katrine when a large group of up to 40 Ballardong Noongar, incensed by the arrest of some of their countrymen for stealing, approached them demanding flour and bread. A fight broke out and both Jones and Chidlow were speared to death (nine and seven spears respectively) in an event creating months of payback conflict. On 20 July 1837 William Nairn Clark, Solicitor at the Guardian wrote ‘Some parties advocate an indiscriminate slaughter of the Blacks, in the York district, others transportation of the Natives, from the Main Land, to one of the neighbouring Islands...Unnecessary cruelty ought not to be inflicted, but the deaths of Chidlow and Jones must be avenged, and we say that ample justice ought to be dealt against their Murderers in the first place, as a terror to their assistants or abbetors, and in the next place let us enquire what salutary measures can be adopted to civilize the Natives, and make them acquainted with our Laws, our Religious, Civil and Military Institutions, and their own right as British Subjects. A general Massacre would be offensive to the Laws of God, as well as those of Man, because the innocent might then be sacrificed to atone for the crimes of the guilty... The Murder of Chidlow and Jones calls aloud for vengeance, but Justice should be tempered with mercy, indiscriminate slaughter of inoffending Tribes can never be palliated’ (Swan River Gazette, July 20, 1837 pp 205-206). On July 1837 York – Bunbury records the names of 11 Aboriginal People shot at York –By November 1837 Reverend Louis Giustiniani wrote a letter to the Swan River Guardian stating 18 Ballardong people were killed in York over the last five months, plus their ears were cut off and hung up in the kitchen of Arthur Trimmer’s house. (Swan River Guardian, November 16, 1837, p 249) List of Aboriginal people shot at York - Warangwert – shot near Heales Dudum – shot at the back of Morells Boonyup – shot near Dodds Wanup or Weinepwert – shot at York Wonnup – shot near Brockmans Boongang – shot near Mrs Littletons grant Nookinman – shot near Mrs Littletons grant Darraman – shot by Mr Waylen at his Tougee farm Wurap – shot by Mr Waylen at his Tougee farm Duir – shot by Mr Waylen at his Tougee farm Yoayoungwort – shot by Mr Waylen at his Tougee farm. (Papers of HW Bunbury.)
SourcesPerth Gazette and Western Australian Journal, July 22, 1837, p 941 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/639907; Swan River Guardian, July 20, 1837, pp 205-206 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214041794, November 16, 1837, p 249 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214041771; Bunbury, 1930, p 27 https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/static/FullTextFiles/628354.pdf; Borowitzka, 2011 p 367; Lieut Bunbury Odds and Ends book, Battye Library, MN 2575, Papers of the H.W. (Henry William) Bunbury, ACC 327A, 6895A, 7146A https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1845344_1. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***