Site NameBlackfellows Creek, Upper Palmer River
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleKokomini
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeQLD
Police DistrictPalmer River
Latitude-16.466
Longitude144.05
DateBetween 1 Jan 1875 and 31 Dec 1875
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed10
Victims Killed Notes
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsNative Police, Stockmen/Drover(s)
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportFoot, Horse
MotiveOpportunity
Weapons UsedCarbine(s)
NarrativeIn a letter from a miner, dated 'Upper Palmer River April 16' and published in the Brisbane Courier and The Queenslander, he describes his camp at a place known locally as 'Blackfellows Creek'. 'To my enquiry as to why the locality was so named, the answer is that not long since "the niggers got a dressing there"...There have been, certainly, "dressings"...dealt out in this part of the country to the blacks.'.... 'Be that as it may, however, the Golgotha on which we are at present camped would well repay a visit from any number of phrenological students in search of a skull, or of anatomical professors in want of a "subject"' (Brisbane Courier, May 1, 1876, p 3). According to historian Jonathan Richards, in this incident, former Sub inspector DW Uhr from the native police, led the attacking party of miners.
SourcesBrisbane Courier, May 1, 1876, p 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1400591; The Queenslander, May 6, 1876, p 23 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18342317; Richards, 2008, p 264; Orsted-Jensen 2011, p 72. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating**