Site NameTahara Station
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupWulluwurrung
Present State/TerritoryVIC
Colony/State/Territory at the timePPD
Police DistrictGeelong
Latitude-37.707
Longitude141.652
DateBetween 1 Jan 1840 and 28 Feb 1840
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed6
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsSettler(s), Stockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMusket(s), Pistol(s)
NarrativeFollowing an Aboriginal attack on shepherds and carrying off some sheep at George Winter's station in late 1840, a reprisal party killed at least five Aborigines. On 12 January 1841, the Reverend Joseph Orton made the following entry in his diary: ’The alleged cause of the attack was the aggressions of the natives. The attack of the Europeans was equally atrocious and unjustifiable, the result of which was that according to the depositions at least five natives were killed. This occurrence was on a station of Winter's who appears to have taken active part in the performance’ (Orton Papers 1840-1842, 12 January 1841, ML A1715 ).
SourcesOrton 1840-1842; Clark ID 1995, p 25. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*