Site NameTalavera Station, Maranoa Pastoral District
Aboriginal Place Name
Language GroupMandandanji or Bigambul or Wirray Wirray or Kogai
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictSurat
Latitude-27.963
Longitude148.868
DateBetween 20 Jul 1849 and 31 Jul 1849
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed50
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsCrowns Land Commissioner, Government Official(s), Stockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Carbine(s), Pistol(s), Sword(s), Bayonet(s)
NarrativeWilliam Telfer, a young stockman visiting the Balonne River region in 1858 heard from Constable Duane of Tamworth who was formerly stationed at Surat in 1849 of 'a fight with the Blacks' at Talavera station on the Balonne River. '[T]he blacks made a good stand but were put to rout losing their Chief (Willari) who was shot with about fifty others...' (Telfer, 1980, p 42). According to Collins (2002, p 42), Crown Lands Commissioner Jack Durbin and a posse of stockmen were involved. According to Telfer (Telfer, 1980, p 42), in the battle 'several of the whites were speared none dangerously.' This would suggest that the battle was probably an ambush.
SourcesTelfer, 1980, p 42; Collins, 2002, pp 20, 42-43. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**