| Narrative | On 15 March 1850, the Superintendent of Wallann Station, James Bennett, said in an affidavit: "Mr Marshall [an officer in charge of a detachment of native police]...arrived here about the beginning of the month, and I called on him for assistance… Mr John Ferrett (a co-owner) of Wallann and myself accompanied by Mr Marshall and the Native Police, on the tracks of the Blacks -- and in three days came up on them -- some blacks ran away, and a portion of them remained and resisted Mr Marshall's endeavours to apprehend them -- It was therefore deemed necessary to fire upon them, and an affray took place, in which some fell -- Having dispersed the Natives we examined their camp, and found several articles ...taken from this station when it was burnt down in April last [i.e. 1849, before Walker's first Lower Condamine patrol] -- We also recognised amongst the Blacks who had fallen two natives who were present on the occasion referred to when I may add that the Hut Keeper was murdered -- I did not count the number of natives slain' (Bennett cited in Collins, 2002, p 96).
The Moreton Bay Courier reported that 'the natives were dispersed with some loss, and I have no doubt, from the lesson taught them, that it will render the safety of this part of the country permanent, as their resistance on this occasion has proved of no avail' (MBC, April 6, 1850), indicating that a large number of people were killed.
Historian Patrick Collins (2002, pp 96-101) considers that the massacre was an 'encounter of major proportions and that many Aborigines died, rather than the tiny number implied by Bennett in his affidavit', an encounter in which Aboriginal people were 'pursued through the scrub' (2002, p 97). Collins suggests the attack was in preparation for putting the station up for sale and to assure potential buyers that it was safe from Aboriginal attack (2002, pp 96-101). The attack was carried out by Lt Richard Marshall and his detachment of native police with support from James Bennett and John Ferrett, in reprisal for the Mandandanji attack on Wallann Station and burning it down in April 1849. |
