Site NameDaly River
This massacre is part of a group of massacres
Aboriginal Place NameNauiyu
Language GroupMurrinh-patha
Present State/TerritoryNT
Colony/State/Territory at the timeSA
Police DistrictPort Darwin
Latitude-13.713
Longitude130.687
DateBetween 2 Sep 1884 and 17 Oct 1884
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal People
Victim DescriptionsWarrior(s)
Victims Killed70
Victims Killed Notes20-30, however some reports estimate it to be between 70-150. The Protector of Aborigines, Dr Robert Morice, put the deaths at 'not less than 150'
AttackersColonisers
Attacker DescriptionsSettler(s), Police
Attackers Killed4
Attackers Killed NotesMiners John Landers, Henry Hauschildt & Johannes Noltenius and their cook Thomas Schollert.
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s)
NarrativeMarkus (1974), Wilson (2000), Nettelbeck (2004), Morris (2019) and others have detailed that on 2 September 1884 at Mt Hayward Copper Mine on the Daly River, John Landers, Henry Hauschildt and Johannes Noltenius were speared as they ran for safety. Back at camp, they found their cook, Thomas Schollert, dead. A reprisal operation was carried out by Mounted Constable George Montagu and took in Argument Flat and Marrakai Station along the Mary River. Montagu’s report documented 20-30 Aboriginal deaths, but other contemporary reports suggest between 70-150, and modern estimates are higher. Inspector Paul Foelsche also led a reprisal party. A third, civilian, party, known as the 'Hauschildt Rescue' party, led by former police officer August Lucanus and split into three groups, was armed by the Government but not accompanied by any police and did not account for ammunition used. See also Argument Flat massacre.
SourcesNettelbeck 2004; Wilson 2000; Morrison www.australianfrontierconflicts.com.au; Evening Journal, June 4, 1885 ; SA Register, June 11, 1885 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44534459; Roberts 2005, p 125-131; Roberts 2009; North Australian, November 27, 1885 ; Markus 1974, p 12-34; 'Report on the pursuit of the Daly River murderers', North Australian, January 8, 1886, ; SAPP, No.170, 1885; Morris 2019; Reid, B 2020; Clement & Bridge 1991, p 16; Daly 1887, pp 257-263. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***