| Site Name | Gammon Creek, Gippsland This massacre is part of a group of massacres |
| Aboriginal Place Name | |
| Language Group | Brataualung |
| Present State/Territory | VIC |
| Colony/State/Territory at the time | PPD |
| Police District | Gippsland |
| Latitude | -38.495 |
| Longitude | 147.039 |
| Date | Between 15 Jul 1843 and 31 Jul 1843 |
| Attack Time | Day |
| Victims | Aboriginal People |
| Victim Descriptions | Aboriginal |
| Victims Killed | 25 |
| Victims Killed Notes | Killed: M F C; Probable: M F C; Possible: . |
| Attackers | Colonisers |
| Attacker Descriptions | Settler(s), Stockmen/Drover(s) |
| Attackers Killed | 0 |
| Attackers Killed Notes | Killed:M F;Wounded:M F |
| Transport | Horse |
| Motive | Reprisal |
| Weapons Used | Firearm(s), Double-barrelled Purdey(s) |
| Narrative | In July 1843, Ronald Macalister, nephew of squatter Lachlan Macalister, was killed by Brataualang Aborigines, near Port Albert. An avenging party of 20 horsemen, known as 'The Highland Brigade' was organised by Angus McMillan, Lachlan Macalister's former overseer, to look for the killer. The "Brigade" was 'sworn to secrecy'. In reviewing every known account of the massacre in 2001, Peter Gardner considers that Gammon Creek was the last site in the rampage that took place over five days and that 25 Kurnai were slaughtered at Gammon Creek and human remains were later found. In all 150 Kurnai were killed in the 5 day rampage across 4 sites. The rampage would fit the criteria of 'genocidal massacre'. (Gardiner, 2001, p 59) |
| Sources | Gardner 2001, p 47-61. See also Pepper and de Araugo 1985, p 24; Cannon 1990, p 171; Shaw 1996, p 133; Bartrop 2004, p 199-205. (Sources PDF) |
| Corroboration Rating | *** |
Colonial Frontier Massacres
in Australia, 1788-1930
