Centre For 21st Century Humanities

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 Massacres	425
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people	411
Massacres of Colonists	13
Massacres of Others	1
Massacres of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people by Colonists	403
Massacres of Colonists by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people	13
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.)	5

Colonial Frontier Massacre Victims

Total victims of frontier massacres	11095
Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders victims of massacres by Colonists	10777
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.)	129
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	6

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	218 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	60 massacres were part of a group of massacres. See the Introduction and Groups.
Average victims of groups of massacres	39 See the Introduction and Groups.
Frontier massacres involving agents of the state in the attack	216 or 51% '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 49% '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	286 or 67% '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	7885 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	19 or 4%.
Victims killed in frontier massacres involving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander attackers	282 or 3%.

Graphs

The tables relating to these graphs are below.

Change Over Time

	TAS		NT
	VIC		QLD
	SA		WA
	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