Site NameSheep Station Bluff Upper McLeay River
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleDhanggati
Present State/TerritoryNSW
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictPort Macquarie
Latitude-30.822
Longitude152.288
DateBetween 12 Jan 1843 and 31 Dec 1843
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim Descriptions
Victims Killed6
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsAboriginal
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Musket(s), Bayonet(s)
NarrativeAccording to Geoffrey Blomfield (1981, pp 40-41), 'Two young colonial men were left at Sheep Station Creek to hold a small mob of quiet cattle' while the station boss and other stockmen went after the wild cattle. The boys 'fell asleep' and when 'they awoke they found that some Aboriginal men had speared a vealer and were dragging it off.' They informed the boss when he returned, and he quickly set off in pursuit (presumably with the other stockmen) and 'quite quickly came up with them on the cliff edge. It is said that they forced them over the cliff to their deaths'. Next day one of the two young men left to hold the 'quiet' cattle 'became troubled that some of the Aboriginal people may have been left injured by the fall from the cliff and dying a lingering death in the sun. He rode out to the site of the massacre. He found an infant crawling about and took it to Pee Dee station, the McMaugh home.' 'Later the child was taken to live with the Thompson Family at Towel Creek station' (Blomfield, 1981, pp 40-41).
SourcesBlomfield 1981, p 40-41. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*