| Site Name | Cape Grim (1) |
| Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name | |
| Language Group, Nation or People | North West |
| Present State/Territory | TAS |
| Colony/State/Territory at the time | VDL |
| Police District | Circular Head |
| Latitude | -40.709 |
| Longitude | 144.688 |
| Date | Between 1 Jan 1828 and 31 Jan 1828 |
| Attack Time | Day |
| Victims | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People |
| Victim Descriptions | |
| Victims Killed | 12 |
| Victims Killed Notes | |
| Attackers | Colonists |
| Attacker Descriptions | Shepherd(s), Sailor(s) |
| Attackers Killed | 0 |
| Attackers Killed Notes | |
| Transport | Foot |
| Motive | Reprisal |
| Weapons Used | Firearm(s), Musket(s), Bayonet(s), Blade(s) |
| Narrative | Richard Frederick, master of the VDL Co sloop, Fanny, told Mrs Rosalie Hare, wife of the captain of the Caroline, that he and four shepherds had surprised a party of Aborigines at Cape Grim, killing 12 of them before retreating to their ship. Mrs Hare recorded the incident in her diary on 19 January 1828 (Lee, 1927, p 41). Edward Curr, the manager of the VDL Company, acknowledged the attack in a report to his superiors in London on 14 January 1828 but claimed there were no casualties because "the guns mis-fired." (TAHO VDL 5/1 No.2) According to historian Ian McFarlane, the massacre was carried out in reprisal for Aboriginal people killing sheep (McFarlane, 2003, pp 277-298). |
| Sources | TAHO VDL 5/1 No. 2; Lee, 1927, p 41; McFarlane, 2003, pp 277-298. (Sources PDF) |
| Corroboration Rating | ** |
