Site NameGum Creek Lagoon, Murrumbidgee River
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupWiradjuri
Present State/TerritoryNSW
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictGoulburn
Latitude-34.491
Longitude145.965
DateBetween 1 Aug 1839 and 31 Aug 1839
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed9
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsOverlander(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMusket(s), Cutlass/Cutlasses
NarrativeAccording to the reminiscences of Overlander James R. Byrne, in August, 1839, his party shot three Wiradjuri warriors after one stockman was badly wounded on the northern side of the Murrumbidgee River. Byrne and his party decided 'to intercept the aborigines and cut them off from the river.' After the first attempt failed, a second attempt was more successful. Five stockmen drove the Wiradjuri towards the river and another six stockmen lying in ambush, 'fired as the natives appeared and then rode down upon them with cutlasses' (Byrne 1848, 2, p 231). After they killed nine Wiradjuri warriors, 'they allowed the rest to escape across the river' (Byrne 1848, vol 2, p 255).
SourcesByrne 1848, vol 2, pp 230-2. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*