Site NameAvenue Range station, near Guichen Bay
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleWattatonga
Present State/TerritorySA
Colony/State/Territory at the timeSA
Police DistrictKingston
Latitude-36.942
Longitude140.14
DateBetween 1 Sep 1848 and 30 Sep 1848
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed9
Victims Killed NotesAn old man, 'blind and infirm', 3 women, 2 teenage girls, 3 female children
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsSettler(s), Stockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportFoot
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Musket(s)
NarrativeIn September 1848 settler James Brown and two employees at Avenue Range station near Guichen Bay, shot and killed eight Wattatonga people and burnt the bodies. The body burning was witnessed by a white man who reported the massacre and then disappeared along with an Aboriginal man who was also a witness. Brown was arrested and charged with murder and the employees absconded. The Aboriginal witness was probably killed before he could be subpoenaed to give evidence at the trial. As a result Brown was never tried and the case was dropped (Foster et al, 2001, pp 78-80; Foster, 2009, pp 1-15).
SourcesFoster and Nettelbeck, 2001, pp 78-80; Foster, 2009, pp 1-15. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**