Site NameTelegraph Point, Wilson River
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupBiripi
Present State/TerritoryNSW
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictPort Macquarie
Latitude-31.326
Longitude152.794
DateBetween 1 Jan 1824 and 31 Dec 1824
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed6
Victims Killed Notesmen
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsMilitary
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportFoot, Boat
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMusket(s), Muzzle Loading Rifle(s)
NarrativeIn 1824, Mr Wilson set out in a boat with a detachment of soldiers on the Wilson River. According to Henry Wilson's memoir, provided by R Wilson, 'After leaving Prospect', (Hack's Ferry) the party 'came upon a blacks' camp [at Telegraph Point] and the natives threw spears at the men in the boat, and some of the soldiers were hurt, but not seriously. The boat was rowed over to the shore on the opposite side to the blacks, who were taught such a lesson at the hands of the party that they never forgot, and one which taught the natives to fear the men who were firing at them' (Wilson, 1941). Henry Wilson's memoir was earlier published in Port Macquarie News of Sept 14, 1889 when he was 72 years old (p8, Morris, 2005). It remains unclear whether the Mr Wilson referred to was the father of Henry Wilson, Mr William Wilson, Overseer of Public Works at Port Macquarie, or Lieutenant William Earle Bulwer Wilson who was Engineer and Inspector of Public Works. They were both in Port Macquarie at the time (pp17-28, Morris, 2005).
SourcesWingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, September 16, 1941, p4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168515594; Morris, Graham P Son of Caledon Kilsyth: Graham P Morris, 2005. (Sources PDF)
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