Site NameBlackman River, intersection of Brumby Creek and Lake River
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupBig River
Present State/TerritoryTAS
Colony/State/Territory at the timeVDL
Police DistrictLaunceston
Latitude-42.233
Longitude147.21
DateBetween 1 Nov 1827 and 10 Nov 1827
Attack TimeNight
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed10
Victims Killed NotesKilled: M 10 unspecified, F; Probable: M F; Possible: M F; Wounded: M F
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsField Police, Soldier(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed NotesKilled: M 3 - shepherds, F; Wounded: M F
TransportFoot
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMusket(s), Pistol(s), Bayonet(s), Blade(s)
NarrativeWhen Aboriginal warriors were alleged to have killed three shepherds and slaughtered 100 sheep in the Blackman river area in early November 1827 , the Tasmanian on November 16 1827 reported: “two parties of military were dispatched, ...in order to join the Field Police in putting a stop to these outrages; and we trust his Excellency will follow up this matter with such measures as will entirely prevent any future occurrences of a similar nature.” In January 1828, when the Land Commissioners arrived in the area one of them noted in his journal at the junction of Brumby Creek and Lake River that: “mysterious Murders have also been committed in this recess, and have hitherto remained undetected” (McKay, 1962, p 74).
SourcesTasmanian November 16, 1827 - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/25173464; McKay, 1962, p 74. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**