Source: University of Newcastle
- identify and record sites of frontier massacre of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across Australia from 1788 to 1930;
- establish a coherent methodology to interrogate the wide array of sources;
- provide a reliable resource for researchers;
- inform public debate about colonial frontier violence; and
- provide open access knowledge to the public and invite contributions.
The map contains only one massacre of Aboriginal people in the Mudgee area. This does not account for the absence of Wiradjuri people in the area by the time of the Gulgong Gold Rush. A lot more research would need to be undertaken to determine the true history of the district but the loss or destruction of records may mean this is never uncovered.
Map of Gulgong district showing known massacres from 1788 to 1870
This one record represents a dawn attack by men with firearms and muskets near Mudgee/Rylstone between 5 and 10 September 1824.
Chamberlaine, William Cox’s overseer at Mudgee, and two stockmen and an Aboriginal guide, killed 16 Wiradjuri, probably all men, including a leader known by the settlers as Blucher. The region was under martial law at the time. (Connor 2002:61)
Source: The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Thu 16 Sep 1824 Page 2
Another listing for the local area in the "Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia, 1788-1930" is Breelong, the site of the murders of non-Aboriginal people by Jimmy Governor.
NEWS ITEMS
1907 - Mudgee in the Early Days. A Fight with the Blacks.
It will be remembered that in the last of this series of articles we told how the Cox's were forced to abandon Guntawang on account of the frequent attacks of the blacks, and that they subsequently took up Dabee which was for many years there breeding station under the management of Tom Frome. We have no date of when the Cox's moved their establishment from Menah to Burrundulla, but the latter spot attracted their attention directly they came to Mudgee.
Soon after the settlement was establishment at Burrundulla, Mr. Henry Cox came over from Bathurst accompanied by his brother Edward, whose stock was then joined with that of the first two brothers. While they were over here the Mudgee tribe of blacks was attacked by a war party from Bathurst.
As usual on such occasions the battle commenced at early dawn, and the plains of Burrundulla, now long since peacefully settled, were the scene OF A TREMENDOUS CONFLICT. The very air was rent by the wild and angry war cry of the combatants, for the blacks fought with all the ferocity and brutality of pure savagery. At that time there were only four rooms in Burrundulla cottage, one being occupied by the brothers Cox. Just at dawn they were awoke by the yells of the blacks, and shortly afterwards Lahy who was then superintendent, came thundering at the door, and calling out asked whether they wanted to be MURDERED IN THEIR BEDS, and that the blacks were about to attack the house.
The Coxes did not take the matter seriously and laughed at the fears of the super. Lahy said that if they wanted to be murdered in their beds he did not, and to open the door so that he could get at the powder and bullets. Henry Cox did so, and immediately there was a rush of TERRIFIED GINS. Finding the store door closed the poor creatures climbed into the loft knowing that they would receive but scant mercy if they fell into the hands of a hostile tribesman. The door was fastened on the inside, and the party fully armed waited for the attack on the house, which they were momentarily expecting. After a time they opened the door, and looked out to see what was going on. The sight which met their eyes was very funny, for the poor frightened gins were running away in all directions, hoping to hide themselves in the tall reeds of the swamp.
It soon became evident that the strife on the Burrundulla flats was due to the same cause as the wars of ancient Troy, and once more there was a woman at the bottom of it. The Bathurst blacks had travelled far to seek a female member of their tribe, whom they asserted had been abducted by the dusky fellows who dwelt on the banks of the Cudgegong.
They seemed to think that the object of their quest was concealed in the house, to which several PAINTED WARRIORS demanded admittance. Mr. Cox had, however, no wish or intention of permitting his angry and warlike visitors to invade his home, and by signs made them understand that they should search the swamp. This they accordingly did, and as it afterwards transpired that they had found the object of their quest, the gins who were concealed in the loft came down, and things resumed their normal aspect. Two of the MUDGEE BLACKS WERE KILLED, and the attacking tribe was followed for several days, frequent fights taking place.
This color question constantly agitated the new settlement, and history has repeated itself all over Australia from the gulf of Carpentaria to the southern seaboard. It continues in Western Australia today, and no law is powerful enough to check it. The writer has seen it rear its ugly head in Northern Queensland within recent years, and has heard the crack of the Winchester, every crack meaning A BULLET IN A BLACKMAN. The colors will not mix. They are like oil and water, and seem to have a natural antipathy. As stated in the previous article, Mr. Henry Cox frankly admitted that much of the trouble was caused by the white man's interference with the female blacks.
No matter what the cause the result was terrible, and Mr Cox, in a letter which lies before us, says "very many sad scenes took place in consequence of one or two white people being killed, which was fearfully retaliated and a war extermination declared. An immense number of the natives, men, women and children, were SLAUGHTERED AT MUDGEE, and amongst them poor old Aaron, our guide. He was shot in the long reach of water at Dabee."
It was among scenes like this that Mudgee, and in fact the whole of New South Wales was settled, and among similar scenes to-day the fringe of civilisation is being brought under the rule of the white man. The Australian aboriginal possesses in an extraordinary degree the traits of the savage, and is absolutely in capable of the reception of civilisation. It may be said that he was happy, peaceful, and contented without civilisation, but the occupation of Australia by the Anglo-Saxon race was apparently ordained by inevitable destiny.
Of late years we have tried to save the black, but those who know best the results of the saving efforts laugh at them with scorn. Whether we like it not we have to admit our mission stations are a failure, and in spite of all our efforts the aboriginal of New South Wales has shown himself to be the lowest type of reasoning being which inhabits the world.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 19 Sep 1907 Page 51916 - GUNTAWANG IN THE EARLY DAYS - FIGHTS WITH THE BLACKS
"The Oldest Inhabitant" (in the "Bulletin"): Eumaaalla, offered on certain terms as a settlement area for soldiers by H. R. Denison, of Sydney, was originally known as Guntawang, and had been in the Rouse family for three-quarters of a century having been granouted to Edwin of ilk in 1825. In the early '20's, when Cox and Lawson settled Mudgee, Gnntawung was formed, and had on it a ferocious tribe of blacks, so treacherous that the whites had to abandon it. War to the knife was declared, and within one week seven white men fell victims to the black man's vengeance. How many natives were massacred in retaliation it is impossible to say, but neither men, women, nor children were spared in the slaughter that took place. (The Mudgee country was discovered by explorer Lawson, whose grandson, J. B. Bettington, died recently. The brothers George and Henry Cox, sons of the pioneer William, were the first to settle at Mudgee. As in honor bound they gave Lawson choice of country. They were followed by Robert Lowe at Wilbetree, Edwin Rouse at Guntawang, William Bowman of Tannabatta, and William Hayes on Lawson Creek.
After the Coxes abandoned Guntawang they formed another station at Dabee, where they flourished. When George Cox travelled his sheep from Bathurst to Mudgee he was accompanied by William Lee, grandfather of Ida Lee (Mrs Marriott), the historian of early days. The original Rouse came out as an immigrant in the first days of last century; and he was a special constable at the Hawkesbury and in charge of public buildings. A friend of Bligh, he was named by that Governor as a witness in the court martial of Colonel Johnston.
