In 1838, a group of Aboriginal people was brutally murdered by white settlers in New South Wales, Australia. This event, known as the Myall Creek massacre, shocked the nation and led to a legal case that established that Aboriginal people were human beings and not animals, as the settlers claimed (Elder 88). This massacre reminds us of the horrific violence that Aboriginal people have faced in Australia and the strength and resilience of the Aboriginal people in the face of such adversity.

The massacre itself

The Myall Creek massacre was a massacre of 28 Aboriginal Australians by a group of settlers on June 10th, 1838, at Myall Creek in New South Wales. It was the deadliest of all the massacres of Aboriginal Australians and sparked international outrage (Michael 63). The massacre occurred just over a year after the Colony of New South Wales was established. The area around Myall Creek was home to the Wiradjuri people, who had been dispossessed of their land by the British colonists. In May 1838, a group of 11 Wiradjuri men, women, and children were killed by a group of settlers led by John Fleming (Michael 64).

The settlers then rounded up 28 more Aboriginal people, mostly women, and children, and took them to Myall Creek station, where they were massacred (Elder 88). The Myall Creek massacre caused a sensation in Britain and Australia and led to calls for an inquiry. The inquiry was conducted by John Hubert Plunkett, the Attorney-General of New South Wales. Plunkett's report found that the massacre was a deliberate and premeditated act of murder and recommended that the colonists responsible be brought to justice (Elder 89). However, the colonists were acquitted by a jury, sparking outrage in Britain and Australia. The British government then dispatched a Royal Commission to investigate the massacre. The Commission's report confirmed Plunkett's findings and recommended that the colonists be tried again. This time, seven of the colonists were found guilty and hanged (Elder 89). The Myall Creek massacre was a turning point in the history of Aboriginal Australians and led to the introduction of new laws and policies to protect them.

The events leading up to the massacre

The massacre culminated in a protracted conflict between the British settlers and the Aboriginal people of New South Wales. The settlers had been encroaching on Aboriginal land for years, hunting game and clearing forests. This led to a gradual decline in the Aboriginal population, as they could not sustain themselves on the limited resources left (Lydon, 2018: 91). At the same time, the British settlers were becoming increasingly resentful of the Aboriginal people. There were several violent clashes between the two groups, and the settlers began to see the Aboriginal people as threatening their way of life.

The first event that is thought to have led to the massacre was the murder of two white men, John Armstrong and Richard Jones, by a group of Aboriginal people. This event occurred on May 19th, 1838, just over three weeks before the massacre. The two men rode on horseback near Myall Creek when they were attacked. Armstrong was killed instantly, while Jones managed to escape. He later died from his injuries (Lydon, 2017: 78). This event caused a great deal of fear and paranoia among the white settlers in the area. They began to believe that all Aboriginal people were out to kill them. This fear was compounded by the fact that just a few days after the murder of Armstrong and Jones, another white man was killed by Aboriginal people. On June 9th, 1838, a group of white men, led by John McLean, set out to find the Aboriginal people responsible for the murders of Armstrong and Jones. They tracked the Aboriginal people to a camp near Myall Creek. The white men attacked the camp, killing 28 Aboriginal people, including women and children (Lydon, 2017: 77).

Supreme court trials

The Supreme Court trials that followed were no less harrowing. The trials were some of the most important in the nation's history, as they set a precedent for how such events would be dealt with in the future. The Supreme Court trials were long and complicated, with many of the accused going through multiple trials. The final verdicts were not handed down until nearly the end of the year after the massacre occurred. Three people who reported the incident started the legal process: station manager William Hobbs, local police chief Thomas Foster, and settler Frederick Foot (Elder 92). The new governor, Sir George Gipps, and the attorney general, John Plunkett, carried it out.

The first hearing trial commenced on November 15^th, 1838, before Chief Justice James Dowling and a jury of 12 settlers. The trial's primary goal was to ascertain whether murder occurred in Myall Creek and whether or not the defendants were guilty. The case was predicated on evidence produced in the court of charred skeletal remains thought to be of a male identified as 'Daddy’ (Elder 92). The court pronounced the accused not guilty at the trial's conclusion because of the public opinion which overwhelmed the logic of the Judge (Elder 93). However, the Attorney-General was displeased with the court's decision and chose to appeal, providing additional evidence that formed the basis of the second trial.

The Second trial began on November 27th, the same year after the trial had been postponed allowing the defendant to study the fresh evidence placed before the court by the attorney general (Elder 94). Many of the accused had failed to appear and were penalized. The second trial began after all the jurors were present, and this time William Burton presided. Seven individuals were found guilty and sentenced to public execution due to his decision (Elder 94). These trials were remarkable because of the execution of British nationals due to the Supreme Court hearings that followed the Myall Creek Massacre, as well as the abundance of information that the court transcripts retained regarding the circumstances preceding the massacre and the court procedures.

It was the first-time white settlers had been tried and convicted for the murder of Aboriginal people. This was a landmark case, and it set a precedent that Aboriginal lives mattered. It was a small step in the long journey toward justice and reconciliation, but it was necessary. The colonial community was devastated by the court's decision to execute some British citizens (Sturma 62). In contrast, the Wirraraay people were somehow happy with the decision, although some believed that justice was not fully served. This made the settler community harden further their attitude towards the Aboriginal people. The decision of William Hobbs to report the case had negative consequences (Sturma 63). He lost his job and had difficulties securing employment as well. John Fleming was able to escape and later able to live a rich and long life after the massacre. In contrast, John Blake, one of the four perpetrators that were freed, committed suicide in the end. It was speculated that the cause of his suicide was trauma due to his involvement in the massacre. The aftermath of the Myall Creek massacre was devastating for the Aboriginal community. They lost 28 members of their community in a single day, and many more were left traumatized by the event (Sturma 65). The massacre also profoundly affected the relationship between Aboriginal people and white settlers. The trust and goodwill between the two groups were destroyed, and it would take many years to rebuild.

The legacy of the Myall Creek massacre

The Myall Creek massacre was a watershed moment in Australian history. It was one of the first times that the brutal realities of the colonial frontier were thrust into the public consciousness, and it profoundly impacted the way that Australians thought about race and justice. The massacre was a brutal act of violence in which a group of white men brutally murdered 28 Aboriginal people. But what made it even more shocking was that it was reported to authorities (Lydon, 2017: 100). This was a rare event when violence against Aboriginal people was primarily seen as acceptable. The Myall Creek massacre shocked the nation and led to a change in the way that Australians thought about race. It also had a lasting impact on the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in this country.

The memorial of the Myall Creek massacre

The massacre was one of the most brutal and shocking incidents in Australian history, and its commemoration is an essential part of our national identity. A memorial service is held every year on the anniversary of the massacre at the Myall Creek massacre site. The service is a time for Australians to remember the lost innocent lives and reflect on the atrocities committed. It is also a time to reaffirm their commitment to reconciliation and the principles of justice and equality (Lydon, 2018:101). The Myall Creek massacre is a painful reminder of the dark chapters in their history, but it is also a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Aboriginal people. The Myall Creek massacre was a brutal and horrific event. Even if the perpetrators were convicted, it remains an injustice event to humanity. It reminds us of the brutal violence inflicted upon Indigenous Australians during the colonial period and the devastating impact of this violence on Indigenous communities. The Myall Creek massacre remains a tragedy that cannot be forgotten easily.

Works Cited

Elder, Bruce. Blood on the Wattle: Massacres and Maltreatment of Aboriginal Australians since 1788 / Bruce Elder. New Holland, 2003.

Lydon, Jane. Remembering the Myall Creek Massacre Lyndall Ryan. NewSouth, 2018.

Lydon, Jane. "Anti‐slavery in Australia: Picturing the 1838 Myall Creek Massacre." History Compass 15.5 (2017): e12330.

Sturma, Michael. "Myall Creek and the psychology of mass murder." Journal of Australian Studies 9.16 (1985): 62-70.