Site NameGeike Gorge, West Kimberley (1)
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleBunuba, Nykina, Goonyiyandi
Present State/TerritoryWA
Colony/State/Territory at the timeWA
Police DistrictFitzroy Crossing - West Kimberley
Latitude-18.111
Longitude125.698
Date19 Nov 1894
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim Descriptions
Victims Killed7
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsPolice
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedSnider(s), Revolver(s), Winchester(s)
NarrativeAccording to Chris Owen, 'On 19 November 1894 PC McDermott and Joseph Blythe (the owner of Brooking Gorge Station who as acting as a special constable) pursued a group of Aboriginal people into the Geikie Gorge. Blythe was injured in a fight where seven Aboriginal people were shot' (Owen 2016, 316).
This massacre was part of the cycle of violence following the killing of PC William (Bill) Richardson on 3 Nov 1894 at Lillamaloora Police Station by Jandamarra (also known as 'Pigeon') 'in concert with another Aboriginal man called Captain... from Esperance' who then 'released the thirteen prisoners that Richardson had just arrested' (Owen 2016, p. 312).
SourcesAPB, 'Correspondence, Report for the Secretary of the Aboriginal Protection Board of Western Australia from Mr George Marsden on Oobagooma Cattle Station, 21 December 1896', SROWA, AN 1, Cons. 495, Item 44; WAPD, 'Capture of Wild Natives in the Oscar and Barrier Ranges', 26 January 1895, SROWA, Cons. 430, File 3548/1897. See telegram from Inspector Lawrence to Commissioner of Police, 5 January 1895; The West Australian, January 8, 1895, p 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3071337; Western Mail, January 12, 1895, p 13 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33111918; Clement and Bridge, 1998, pp 47-79; McGregor, 1985, pp 100-122; Pederson, 1995, pp 132-142; Owen, 2016, pp 315-330. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***