Site NameWyandote Station, Valley of Lagoons
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or People
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeQLD
Police District
Latitude-18.93
Longitude145.529
DateBetween 1 Jul 1872 and 31 Jul 1872
Attack TimeMorning
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed11
Victims Killed NotesMen and women.
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsNative Police
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Carbine(s)
NarrativeIn a letter to the Colonial Secretary by Alfred Davidson, 'representative of the Aborigines Protection Society based in Brisbane', he pointed out that: 'Mr Scott of Valley of Lagoons [station] permitted a mob of Blacks mostly aged, to camp in that neighbourhood upon condition they would do no harm which condition they faithfully kept' (Davidson cited in Bottoms, 2013, p 137). One morning in July 1872 before daylight and without warning they were attacked by a detachment of Native police led by Acting Sub-Inspector Robert Johnstone (Richards, 2008, p 241). 'Several were shot and two Gins taken away. The bodies of the slain Gins appear to have been buried but the naked bodies of eight dead men, one grey haired, were left exposed on the roadside till they stank' (Davidson cited in Bottoms, 2013, p 137).
SourcesRichards, 2008, p 241; Bottoms, 2013, p 137. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**