| Site Name | K'Gari / Fraser Island |
| Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name | K'Gari |
| Language Group, Nation or People | [Butchulla] or a collection of clans that had sought refuge on the island |
| Present State/Territory | QLD |
| Colony/State/Territory at the time | NSW |
| Police District | Maryborough |
| Latitude | -25.599 |
| Longitude | 153.09 |
| Date | Between 24 Dec 1851 and 3 Jan 1852 |
| Attack Time | Day |
| Victims | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People |
| Victim Descriptions | |
| Victims Killed | 50 |
| Victims Killed Notes | |
| Attackers | Colonists |
| Attacker Descriptions | Native Police |
| Attackers Killed | 0 |
| Attackers Killed Notes | |
| Transport | Horse |
| Motive | Opportunity |
| Weapons Used | Firearm(s), Carbine(s) |
| Narrative | According to Lauer (1977), after almost a decade of conflict between colonists and Aboriginal people in the 'Wide Bay' region, Aboriginal people had established K'Gari (Fraser Island) as a base of operations:
'Following these engagements, the Aborigines withdrew to Fraser Island, which, according to the whites, they seemed to be using as a convenient natural fortress, for the avoidance of European reprisal raids. At a meeting of the three Native Police officers with Magistrate Bidwell and local squatter, Edward B. Uhr, in mid-February 1851, it was maintained that on previous occasions the natives had retired to the island "after committing murders" and that this place was tactically regarded by them "as a stronghold from which they can issue at any time to commit fresh crimes."' (Lauer, 1977, p 52) Between 24 December 1851 and 3 January 1852 a punitive expedition led by Commandant Frederick Walker, Lt Marshall and Sgt Major Dolan, and 24 troopers along with the captain and crew of the schooner 'Margaret and Mary', who were all armed and sworn in as special constables, was carried out on Fraser Island to 'break up' Aboriginal clans that had sought sanctuary on the island. According to Lauer, Walkers report cautious in it's details, unbelievable in parts and did not account for many days, even though 'This campaign of 1851-2 - the largest Native Police manoeuvre in the Northern Districts to that date - seems to mark another turning point in frontier relations.' (Lauer, 1977, p54) Walker did report that 'on the 24th, his troopers fired on retreating boats of natives, and "several balls struck", as well as how, on the night of the 27th, the Fraser Islanders "made frequent attempts to surprise the Native Police camp", again suffering casualties in doing so.' (Lauer, 1977, p54) According to colonists at the time Aboriginal people were 'driven into the sea, and kept there as long as daylight and life lasted' (Lauer, 1977). Some comparable details, such as the deputisation of colonists, the killings on the beach and victims driven into the water, suggest this may be the same, or related to a massacre written from oral history by Vic Collins. According to Vic Collins a massacre took place just to the south of K'Gari on the mainland at Teewah Beach, north of Noosa: 'The convicts were given their freedom provided they donned a red uniform (Red Coats) to keep the blacks in order. Stationed at Maryborough word came of a tribe of blacks stealing sheep from Mannumbar Station (on their way bay from Bunya Mts) Noosa blacks were blamed. The Red Coats track them to Teewah Beach. They were ordered to ride out on the beach and shoot the men (single shot muzzle loaders) then use swords on the remainder which they did. But children took to the water, so the officer in charge ordered the red coats to ride their horeses into the surf and trample the children till they drowned.' (Collins, 2000) |
| Sources | Lauer, 1977 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1dac35b; SMH, January 22, 1852 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1509723; Collins, 2000. (Sources PDF) |
| Corroboration Rating | *** |
Colonial Frontier Massacres
in Australia, 1788-1930
