Site NameNankin Creek, Fitzroy River
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleDarumbal
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeNSW
Police DistrictPort Curtis
Latitude-23.384
Longitude150.646
DateBetween 1 Jan 1856 and 10 Jan 1856
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed11
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsNative Police, Police, Aboriginal Guide(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedCarbine(s)
NarrativeFollowing the killing of James and Margaret Foran, George Smelt, John Murray and their Aboriginal servant, Peter Blackboy at Mt Larcom station on 28 December 1855 by a large group of Port Curtis warriors, estimated to number about 50, Lieutenant John Murray led five native troopers, settler William Young, District Constable Horrigon and Aboriginal guide, Harold, in search of the attackers. Murray and his posse attacked them at their camp at Nankin Creek, a tributary of the Fitzroy River. They shot dead 11 warriors and three others were 'severely if not mortally wounded' (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212). In his report of the incident, prepared on 7 November 1856, Murray did not deny that troopers had fired on the Port Curtis people in the lead up to the killings at Mt Larcom station (Skinner, 1975, pp 208-212).
SourcesSkinner, 1975, pp 208-212. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*