Site NameWarroo, Maranoa Pastoral District
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupBigambul from north of the Macintyre
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictSurat
Latitude-27.735
Longitude150.317
DateBetween 1 Jan 1848 and 31 Dec 1848
Attack TimeNight
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed100
Victims Killed Notes100 to 200
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsStockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Musket(s)
NarrativeAccording William Telfer (1980, p 71), after a stockman named Tierney was killed by the Bigambul at Warroo station on the banks of the Balonne River, a number of 'white men were cooped up and besieged for a week in the hut without ammunition or provisions...the whites Escaped at night it being very dark and they made their way to the head Station down the other side of the River the blacks never missed them till next day the aboriginals Encamped there fisching (sic) and killing some of the Cattle and having a Great Feast to celebrate their victory but the whites only went for help returning the Second night after leaving with twenty five men well armed and plenty ammunition also having as allies the tribe of aboriginals on the western Side of the River to the number of 1 hundred and fifty warriors the Enemy were encamped in fancied Security having no sentries went to sleep from which they were surprised and shot down like so many sheep if they Excaped (sic) from the whites they were masacred (sic) by the savage tribe of aboriginals very few Escaped they said there were fully two hundred slain those were all buried in one large pit in front of the old hut the large mound was there when i (sic) passed that way covered by green grass...' (Telfer, 1980, p 71). The discrepancy between 25 colonists with 150 Aboriginal allies, and 200 claimed victims, suggests this might be an exaggeration, and perhaps about 100 people were killed.
SourcesTelfer, 1980, pp 17-18, 71; Collins, 2002, pp 18-22. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**