Site Name | Ivanhoe Station and Lisadell Station, East Kimberley |
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name | |
Language Group, Nation or People | Mirrawong Gadgerong |
Present State/Territory | WA |
Colony/State/Territory at the time | WA |
Police District | Wyndham - East Kimberley |
Latitude | -16.628 |
Longitude | 128.599 |
Date | 27 Dec 1895 |
Attack Time | Day |
Victims | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People |
Victim Descriptions | |
Victims Killed | 20 |
Victims Killed Notes | 20-40 |
Attackers | Colonists |
Attacker Descriptions | Police |
Attackers Killed | 0 |
Attackers Killed Notes | |
Transport | Horse |
Motive | Reprisal |
Weapons Used | Rifle(s) |
Narrative | Police reports document an East Kimberley police patrol from 22 November 1895 until 24 December 1895 that included Sergeant Wheatley, PC Rhatigan, four native assistants (Mickey, Willy, Joe and Bubby). A telegram from Inspector Orme to the commissioner of police indicates the patrol shot the entire group of Aboriginal people they came across: 'Returned today[,] met police party about eighty miles from here[,] they have had most successful trip. [T]ribe recently killing at Durack Bros Ivanhoe Stud Station thoroughly dispersed not one escaping. Durack Bros reports no killing on Argyle Downs station[.] Sergt Wheatley met Halls Creek police party at Lissadell station where both parties dispersed several tribes.' Estimated 20-40 killed (SROWA, AN 24, Cons.527, File 823/1895All CSO). |
Sources | CSO, 'Telegram from Sub Inspector Orme to Commissioner of Police GB Phillips', Wyndham Station, 15 December 1895, SROWA, AN 24, Cons.527, File 823/1895. See also Telegram dated 27 December 1895. Const. Inglis and party 'dispersed several tribes on Lissadell and Ord River Stations', CSO, AN 24, Cons.527, File 823/1895. Owen, 2003, pp 360-364. (Sources PDF) |
Corroboration Rating | *** |