| Narrative | According to Clark (1995, p 160): ‘In August 1843, a large group of Aboriginal warriors attacked WJ Purbrick's Koroite station on Konongwootong Creek, adjoining present day Coleraine, and drove off 180 sheep’. Captain HEP Dana, commandant of a detachment of Native Police stationed at Mt Eckersley, ‘was notified of the alleged attack and with seven native police troopers, Dana followed the Aboriginal men into the Victoria Range’ (Clark, 1995, p 160). According to the Port Phillip Gazette (August 26, 1843, p. 2), in the conflict that ensued, ‘Captain Dana's troop fired simultaneously upon the savages four or five times, seven or eight of whom were shot dead on the spot, and many wounded; the remainder retreated to the scrub and it is supposed about twenty of their number have been shot in the affray’. 'About eighty sheep out of the number that had escaped being slaughtered, were driven back to the owner.' According to the same article, 'the settlers were 'in perfect ecstasies', declaring that a 'real service has been done for them' (Port Phillip Gazette, August 26, 1843 p 2). |
