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 Massacres430
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people415
Massacres of Colonists13
Massacres of Others2
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people by Colonists406
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 11318
Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders victims of massacres by Colonists 10983
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 207
Massacres before 1860 were mostly in the southern part of Australia.
Frontier massacres from 1860 on 223
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 62 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 216 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 5435 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 284 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 8066 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 23 or 5%.
Victims killed in frontier massacres where type of colonist is not specified 410 or 4%.
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
Australia023344428627404341521217180
TAS00112840000000000
VIC000001133400000000
SA0000017100030000
NSW0222131525621011000
NT000020001162026612130
QLD000003201533261531100
WA00001811406194450

Victims of Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Decade1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s
Australia01446376331053219367710941452167413634043043740
TAS003017408240000000000
VIC000001958305400000000
SA00000673150001200000
NSW01416201656826091422640068000
NT000040000104789808233152553140
QLD00000376744519439344722061100
WA00002010971511502223947538600

Average Victims of Frontier Massacres by Decade and by State

Decade1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s
Australia07151214252625273441263418210
TAS0030171560000000000
VIC0000018251400000000
SA0000061015000400000
NSW07810134524241340068000
NT000020000103049325321240
QLD00000123430293631761100
WA0000201471529037211910120

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

AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesNorthern TerritoryQueenslandWestern Australia
Est. Total Massacres430344812709611753
Est. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres1114647910711881713318834521055
Est. Colonist victims of massacres15908261514960
Est. Average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres26.8614.0922.7917.0925.1934.6531.3819.91
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 Massacres43034441098680203504
Est. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres1114647910172869287823364585799854
Est. Colonist victims of massacres159084340680000
Est. Average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of massacres26.8614.0923.6527.5935.5330.7422.9019.0019.9613.50
Est. Average colonist victims of massacres12.2308.008.6013.3317.000000