Site NameThe Retreat, (Cheshunt) Dairy Plains, Meander River
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupPort Sorell [Pallittore North]
Present State/TerritoryTAS
Colony/State/Territory at the timeVDL
Police DistrictLaunceston
Latitude-41.622
Longitude146.519
DateBetween 1 Dec 1827 and 31 Dec 1827
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed19
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsStockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportFoot
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedSwivel Gun(s)
NarrativeTraveling through the Surry Hills on 12 August 1830, government agent GA Robinson was informed by Henry Hellyer, the surveyor of the VDL Co of an incident at “The Retreat”, a cattle run on the Meander River at Dairy Plains, leased by Hobart solicitor, Gamiel Butler. In 1827 stockkeeper Paddy Heagon 'shot nineteen of the western natives with a swivel gun charged with nails' (Plomley, 2008, p 231; 1966, pp 197-198).
SourcesPlomley, 2008, p 231; 1966, pp 197-198. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*