Site NameMount Foster, Wellington Pastoral District
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or People
Present State/TerritoryNSW
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictWellington
Latitude-31.134
Longitude147.581
DateBetween 1 Sep 1845 and 30 Sep 1845
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed10
Victims Killed Notesmen
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsMounted Police
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Carbine(s)
NarrativeA letter from Mr W.H. Wright to Colonial Secretary Thomson, 15th January, 1846 describes a large gathering of 150 to 200 men with women and children, from lands between the Macquarie, Darling and Lachlan Rivers (Wailwan, Wongaibon and Wiradjuri people). Following this gathering a war party of 40 warriors raided 5 stations, using Maliyanga Ngurra as a defensive position (Macquarie Marshes) until Native Police and local colonists pursued them and shot 10.
W.H. Wright wrote, 'These generally known as "Myall" or wild Blacks are joined at certain periods by large parties of Aborigines frequenting the country westward of the settled portions as far as the Darling River, when as many as one hundred and fifty or two hundred men are sometimes assembled besides Women and Children... I regret to have to report that during the past Year the "Myall" Tribes or those of the unsettled portions of the District have committed many outrages on the persons and property of the Settlers on the Macquarie River, and have evinced a boldness and determination which I believe to have been unprecedented amonst Aborigines. ...
From the time (Octr., 1844) that the Gerawhey Blacks drove Mr. Kinghorne's Superintendent and men from his Station in the flood which then covered the Country, Aborigines of that Tribe have been constantly threatening and actually committing depredations on the Settlers, and Warrants for the apprehension of eight individuals of that Tribe were issued. But, although fully aware of the fact and its intention, from the secure retreat they possessed among the Macquarie Marshes and being generally informed of the approach of any policemen, they only become bolder, and, in September last, had assembled to the number of about forty men at a Station near Mount Foster, which they had stated their determination to plunder as soon as the dray which had brought the Supplies and its attendants should return.
At this juncture, a party of Mounted Police under Sergeant Anderson who had information of their intention came upon them; and, as most of the individuals named in the Warrants (which he held) were identified amongst the Tribe, he endeavoured to capture them, but being attacked and one of his party wounded he was compelled to fire. It is to be lamented that as many as ten Natives were shot in this encounter with the Police. At the same time I am convinced that, but for the appearance of the Police at this time and the Check given to the Aborigines, they would have pillaged many of the lower Stations and in all probability have murdered some of the Inhabitants.
Immediately before this a body of Blacks assembled from the Bogan, Lachlan, and country between the McQuarie and Darling Rivers, and among them I regret to say several of the Aborigines looked upon as domesticated, in all one hundred and fifty or two hundred men.
On the 19th August, they came on the Macquarie. and during that and the following day plundered five Stations.
They were pursued by two of the Bligh District Border Police and a party of Settlers, who, after an obstinate resistance by the Natives, two of whom were shot, recovered some of the stolen property' (HRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10).
SourcesHRA, I, xxv, pp 8-10 https://doi.org/10.26181/22300306.v1 (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**