Site NameDourallie Creek, Upper Macleay River Valley
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupDhanggati
Present State/TerritoryNSW
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictPort Macquarie
Latitude-30.978
Longitude152.21
DateBetween 1 Oct 1846 and 10 Oct 1846
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed60
Victims Killed NotesKilled: M ‘about sixty’, ‘the number was substantial’, F; Probable: M F; Possible: M F; Wounded: M F
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsSettler(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed NotesKilled: M F; Wounded: M F
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Musket(s)
NarrativeOn October 20, 1846, p2, the 'Sydney Morning Herald' reported: 'Accounts have been received of a great number of cattle having been speared by the blacks, at the head of the McLeay river, and at the Manning. The greatest sufferers are Messrs P. and H. Mackay in the McLeay.' Geoffrey Blomfield (1981, p 46-7), reports 'a punitive expedition led by two graziers opened fire on [Aboriginal] people swimming in [a] waterhole at the junction of [the Macleay river and Durallie Creek]. Some tried to escape by scrambling up the opposite cliff face but were "brought back with lead"'. Blomfield considers that ' [a]bout 60 men, women and children were swimming in the creek where they were all shot.' Details of the massacre were given to Blomfield by Aboriginal Elder Victor Shepherd (Blomfield, 1981, pp 46-7). For sixty people to have been shot, the punitive expedition would have to have comprised at least six well-armed horsemen.
SourcesSMH October 20, 1846, p 2 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12901989; Blomfield 1981, pp 46-7. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*