About

Between 1822 and 1824, conflict between the Wiradyuri people and colonists in the Bathurst region escalated into warfare. The colonists began stealing large parcels of land, bringing sheep and cattle, and disrupting the Wiradyuri way of life, which is based on collective belonging to Country: “Ngurambang Ngadhu, Ngurambang Nginhagu (I am Country, Country is me)” which contrasts sharply with the British ideology of possession of land, people and things.

In early 1824, a farmer named Antonio Jose Rodrigues initially offered a group of Wiradyuri people some potatoes. They returned soon after, and helped themselves to the food from Ngurambang (Country/homeland) as was traditional custom. Antonio, not understanding Wiradyuri customary law, particularly that mayiny (people) may harvest all that they need from Ngurambang in accordance with Yindyamarra Buyaa (Yindyamarra Lore), fired upon them, killing several and wounding others. Wiradyuri warriors sought Giban (payback), for this and other offences involving the killing of Wiradyuri peoples and the desecration of sacred land targeting only those responsible, avoiding harm to women and children. 

At Miilumarra (Millah Marrah station), near Wattle Flat, a bora ground was built upon by white colonialists desecrating its sacredness. In 1824 “Poisoned dampers had been left purposely exposed in shepherds huts in order to tempt the blacks to steal and eat. they did eat, and died in horrible agony”. On the station was a hut called the ‘murdering hut’.

At Bells Falls Gorge there was a massacre involving hundreds of Wiradyuri being rounded up and shot at. Wiradyuri were surrounded by men on horses, forcing women and children off the cliffs.

In the Capertee valley, Wiradyuri warriors tried to lead soldiers away from the women and children however the women and children were massacred.

The Sydney Gazette newspaper noted the conflict, highlighting the Wiradyuri's grievances over the colonists driving away their traditional food sources like kangaroos and opossums, forcing them to seek cattle instead:

“Advices from Bathurst say that the natives have been very troublesome in that country. Numbers of cattle have been killed. In justification of their conduct, the natives urge that the white men have driven away all the kangaroos and opossums, and the black men must now have beef!”

In revenge, armed settlers attacked and killed three Wiradyuri women. For months, the Wiradyuri whilst enacting Giban (payback), carried out raids, hitting unexpected locations before retreating into the bush. Colonists began advocating for military intervention, which led to severe brutality, including the rape and murder of Wiradyuri women and children. Such acts were committed with impunity, as the settlers viewed the Wiradyuri as obstacles to their land acquisition and little regard was given to their humanity as Wiradyuri were seen as less than animals.

At a public meeting in Bathurst, one colonist, William Cox, suggested shooting all Aboriginal people, including women and children, and using their bodies as fertiliser. This was seen as a "solution" to their "problem". 

Martial law was then declared, which according to some commentators was to stop the killing of white settlers, however the horrific massacres went on and Wiradyuri people, including non-combatants, were killed indiscriminately by armed white settlers and their convict slaves. 

“One of the largest holders of Sheep in the Colony, maintained at a public meeting at Bathurst, that the best thing that could be done, would be to shoot all the Blacks and manure the ground with their carcasses, which was all the good they were fit for! It was recommended likewise that the Women and Children should especially be shot as the most certain method of getting rid of the race. Shortly after this declaration, martial law was proclaimed, and sad was the havoc made upon the tribes at Bathurst. A large number were driven into a swamp, and mounted police rode round and round and shot them off indiscriminately until they were all destroyed! When one of the police enquired of the Officer if a return should be made of the killed, wounded there were none, all were destroyed, Men, Women and Children! The reply was;- that there was no necessity for a return. But forty-five heads were collected and boiled down for the sake of the skulls! My informant, a Magistrate, saw the skulls packed for exportation in a case at Bathurst ready for shipment to accompany the commanding Officer on his voyage shortly afterwards taken to England.” - English Missionary Lancelot Threlkeld

On 14 August 1824, Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane declared martial law, authorising Commandant Major James Morisset to deploy soldiers against the Wiradyuri. Most Wiradyuri casualties were innocent women and children, killed by groups of armed white settlers or poisoned by colonists. The Sydney Gazette reported:

“Bathurst and its surrounding vicinity is engaged in an exterminating war.”

William Suttor recounted how a large group of Wiradyuri warriors, led by Windradyne, a Wiradyuri warrior visited his family’s hut. Despite their fearsome appearance, his father managed to peacefully communicate with them, avoiding conflict. However, violence continued elsewhere, including the poisoning of food meant for the Wiradyuri:

“Our hut was one day surrounded by a large party of blacks, fully equipped for war, under the leadership of their great fierce chief and warrior, named by the whites ‘Saturday’. There was no means of resistance so my father, then a lad of eighteen years, met them fearlessly at the door. He spoke to them in their own language in such a manner as not to let them suppose he anticipated any evil from them. They stood there, sullen, silent, motionless. My father's cheerful courage and friendly tone disarmed animosity. They consulted in an undertone, and departed as sullenly and noiselessly as they came. The next thing known of them is that they killed... all the men at a settler's place some miles distant, the very place where it was rumoured, the poisoned bread had been laid for them.”

Many settlers and their convict servants participated in the massacres under the guise of martial law, effectively legalizing actions that would otherwise be considered war crimes.

Governor Brisbane later thanked Major Morisset for his actions, claiming the Wiradyuri had learned to respect British power:

“By the judicious measures taken by you and the other magistrates at Bathurst, the aboriginal (sic) natives have learned to respect our power.”

Today the great wealth that came to Colonel William Stewart and other families who occupied stolen Wiradyuri land continues to flow to their descendants.