Statistics

The following statistics relate to frontier massacres of 6 or more people only and are subject to change as more information becomes available. Other factors affect the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations such as disease, loss of land, abduction of children, control of movement, and combined flow on effects to the community.

All figures are conservative estimates. These statistics are indicative and are minimum estimates based only on the data collected as part of this project, and are not estimates of the full extent of frontier massacres. It is likely that more frontier massacres occurred than were reported and recorded and for which we can find evidence. Frontier massacres were often covered up and, while we only include massacres with some supporting evidence, the details of accounts can vary and be imprecise. Future research may reveal more information.

Colonies changed their borders over time such that the present day states, or parts of them, may have been in a different colony at the time of the massacre.

Colonial Frontier Massacre Totals

Total Massacres429
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people414
Massacres of Colonists13
Massacres of Others2
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people by Colonists405
Massacres of Colonists by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people13
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
(These are included as being directly related to frontier conflict, while other indigenous conflicts are not included.)
6

Colonial Frontier Massacre Victims

Total victims of frontier massacres 11277
Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders victims of massacres by Colonists 10942
Colonist victims of massacres by Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders 159
Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander victims of frontier massacres by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders or Others
(These are included as being directly related to frontier conflict, while other indigenous conflicts are not included.)
139
Colonist victims of frontier massacres by Colonists or Other
(Other conflicts and crimes among colonists in well established settlements are not included as they are not directly related to the frontier.)
0
Other victims of frontier massacres committed by Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders, or Colonists 13

Other Statistics

Maximum victims in a single frontier massacre 300
Slaughterhouse Creek, Gwydir River (corroboration rating of one asterisk) and Thouringowa Waterhole, Bulloo River, Bullawarra, Thargomindah (corroboration rating of two asterisks) each have 300 victims. Massacres with the highest number of victims that have a corroboration rating of three (ie: most certain), are Skull Hole, Mistake Creek, Forsyth Ranges and Arafura Station with an estimated 200 victims each.
Maximum colonists killed during a frontier massacre 26
This is the 'Maria' massacre, Coorong.
Frontier massacres before 1860 204
Massacres before 1860 were mostly in the southern part of Australia.
Frontier massacres from 1860 on 225
Massacres after 1860 were mostly in the northern part of Australia.
Average victims of frontier massacres before 1860 22
Massacres before 1860 were mostly in the southern part of Australia.
Average victims of frontier massacres from 1860 on 30
Massacres after 1860 were mostly in the northern part of Australia.
Groups of massacres 21
Groups of massacres (such as where an expedition rides over an extended period of time committing massacres in different places) were intended to eradicate an entire group of people from an area.
See the Introduction and Groups.
Groups of massacres 61 massacres were part of a group of massacres.
See the Introduction and Groups.
Average victims of groups of massacres 40
See the Introduction and Groups.
Frontier massacres involving agents of the state in the attack 215 or 50%
'Agents of the state' includes: Border Police, Crowns Land Commissioner, Explorers, Field Police, Foot Soldiers, Government Officials, Military, Mounted Police, Native Police, Aboriginal Trackers, Police and Soldiers.
Victims killed in frontier massacres involving agents of the state in the attack 5374 or 48%
'Agents of the state' includes: Border Police, Crowns Land Commissioner, Explorers, Field Police, Foot Soldiers, Government Officials, Military, Mounted Police, Native Police, Aboriginal Trackers, Police and Soldiers.
Frontier massacres involving civilian attackers 282 or 66%
'Civilians' includes: Aboriginal, Hutkeeper(s), Manager(s), Overlander(s), Settler(s), Shepherd(s), Stockkeeper(s), Stockmen/Drover(s), Whaler/Sealer(s), Warrior(s), Sailor(s), Convict(s), Servant(s), Japanese Pearler(s), Chinese Miner(s), Indentured Labourer(s), Torrese Strait Islander(s), Makassan, Overseer(s), Aboriginal Assistant(s), Aboriginal Guide(s), Pastoralist(s), Miner(s) and Vigilante/Volunteer(s).
Victims killed in frontier massacres involving civilian attackers 8038 or 71%
'Civilians' includes: Aboriginal, Hutkeeper(s), Manager(s), Overlander(s), Settler(s), Shepherd(s), Stockkeeper(s), Stockmen/Drover(s), Whaler/Sealer(s), Warrior(s), Sailor(s), Convict(s), Servant(s), Japanese Pearler(s), Chinese Miner(s), Indentured Labourer(s), Torrese Strait Islander(s), Makassan, Overseer(s), Aboriginal Assistant(s), Aboriginal Guide(s), Pastoralist(s), Miner(s) and Vigilante/Volunteer(s).
Frontier massacres where type of colonist is not specified 22 or 5%.
Victims killed in frontier massacres where type of colonist is not specified 380 or 3%.
Frontier massacres involving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander attackers 21 or 5%.
Victims killed in frontier massacres involving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander attackers 299 or 3%.

Graphs

The tables relating to these graphs are below.

Change Over Time

TASNT
VICQLD
SAWA
NSW

Total Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Total Victims of Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Average Victims by Decade and by State

Proportion of Victims

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Colonists

Total Victims by Present Day State and Territory Borders

(Colony boundaries changed over time and do not correspond to present day borders.)

Total Victims by Colony at the Time of the Massacre

(Colony boundaries changed over time and do not correspond to present day borders.)

Tables

Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Decade1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s
Australia023342428527404442511417170
TAS00112740000000000
VIC000001133400000000
SA0000017100030000
NSW0222131524621011000
NT000010001172125812120
QLD000003201533261531100
WA00001811406194450

Victims of Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Decade1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s
Australia01436375841076212867711231487169813104493043540
TAS002017369240000000000
VIC000001957705400000000
SA00000673150001200000
NSW01416201657026041422640068000
NT0000300001051310047703602552940
QLD00000376744519729344722061100
WA00002011271511502223947538600

Average Victims of Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Decade1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s
Australia07121214262525283440263218210
TAS0020171460000000000
VIC0000018231400000000
SA0000061015000400000
NSW07810134725241340068000
NT000030000103048314521250
QLD00000123430293631761100
WA0000201471529037211910120

Frontier Massacres Between 1780 and 1930 in Australia by Current State and Territory Borders

AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesNorthern TerritoryQueenslandWestern Australia
Est. Total Massacres429334812699711753
Est. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres1110543010111881728320934811058
Est. Colonist victims of massacres15908261514960
Est. Average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres26.8213.0321.5117.0925.7934.5131.6519.96
Est. Average colonist victims of massacres12.2308.0026.007.507.0013.710

Frontier Massacres Between 1780 and 1930 in Australia by Colony at the Time of the Massacre

AustraliaVan Diemen's Land (Tasmania)Port Phillip District (Victoria)New South WalesSouth AustraliaQueenslandNorthern TerritorySwan River ColonyWestern AustraliaVictoria
Est. Total Massacres42932441088880203504
Est. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres1110541095728942909236545857100154
Est. Colonist victims of massacres159084340680000
Est. Average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres26.8212.8122.2628.1035.0531.1222.9019.0020.0213.50
Est. Average colonist victims of massacres12.2308.008.6013.3317.000000