Myall Creek Massacre
On June 10, 1838, the infamous Myall Creek Massacre took place at Myall Creek Station where twenty eight Aboriginal men, women and children were massacred and their bodies burned. The ensuing court case marked the first time in Australian history that white men were tried for crimes against Aborigines. Seven men were hanged as a result.
In 1838 a vicious attack on some Aboriginal people happened at Myall Creek, north of Sydney. Some settlers, outraged at an attack on their cattle, wanted revenge.
On Sunday 10 June 1838, over 30 Aboriginal men, women and children were surrounded by a group of stockmen, tied up and then almost all of them were murdered. Governor Gipps had been ordered by the British Government to protect all people. Despite an outcry from many of the settlers and the press, he ordered that the settlers who had murdered the Aborigines at Myall Creek should be found and brought to justice. There were two trials following the massacre. |
There was two completely different ways of seeing the world. As the colonists began to develop the land conflicts soon arose between the original inhabitants and the new settlers. Many colonists took the law into their own hands. Myall Creek is one of the massacres that took place in colonial times.
Interesting Fact
While Aboriginal people were entitled to be protected by British law they were not permitted to give evidence in a court. It was claimed that most Aboriginal people were not Christians and therefore could not take the oath to tell the truth. Aboriginal people could also not appear before courts or give evidence.
While Aboriginal people were entitled to be protected by British law they were not permitted to give evidence in a court. It was claimed that most Aboriginal people were not Christians and therefore could not take the oath to tell the truth. Aboriginal people could also not appear before courts or give evidence.
Consequences
There was much anger among the British settlers that the 7 men were hanged for killing the Aboriginal people, who many regarded as 'black animals'. Although the trial and hangings were intended to stop the massacres on the frontier, it may have encouraged the settlers to further retaliate and to cover up the evidence. Indeed, the frontier battles and massacres continued to occur for many more years, causing countless deaths in both the Aboriginal and European populations.
There was much anger among the British settlers that the 7 men were hanged for killing the Aboriginal people, who many regarded as 'black animals'. Although the trial and hangings were intended to stop the massacres on the frontier, it may have encouraged the settlers to further retaliate and to cover up the evidence. Indeed, the frontier battles and massacres continued to occur for many more years, causing countless deaths in both the Aboriginal and European populations.