Site NameBarron River, Cairns
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or People
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeQLD
Police DistrictCairns
Latitude-16.852
Longitude145.646
DateBetween 1 Jun 1890 and 30 Jun 1890
Attack TimeDawn
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim DescriptionsAboriginal
Victims Killed8
Victims Killed NotesMen, women and children.
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsNative Police
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedMartini-Henry Rifle(s)
NarrativeIn June 1890, following the murder of Mr Hobson on his station by one of his Aboriginal workers, known as Bismarck, a detachment of native police surrounded the camp of the 'Barron tribe' 'towards which "Bismarck's" steps were tracked and surrounded; and, without warning, the cordon of rifles fired into the camp, and left eight Aboriginals dead' (Queenslander, Sept 19, 1891, pp 572-573). However Bismarck and his accomplice, Darkie, were not among the victims and were later arrested. Their fate is not known.
SourcesCapricornian, September 6, 1890, p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67951133; Queenslander, September 19, 1891, pp 572-573 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20296175/2350625. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating*