On the 13th of April 1838, at least one Aborigine and eight European stockmen were reported to have been killed along the Broken River at Benalla, located in the north-central region of Victoria.
” . . . In 1838 a convoy of stock belonging to Mr. Faithfull, whilst en route from New South Wales to Melbourne, was attacked near the Ovens by a mob of two or three hundred blackfellows, and eight out of eighteen white men in charge, murdered. Several other outrages of a similar, though not so serious a kind, were committed on the Goulburn, the Ovens, the Murray, and at other places; and for some years collisions between the blacks and the whites occasionally occurred. Aboriginal aggression, as a rule, is said to have led to the disasters, though there can be little doubt that the white stockmen and shepherds not infrequently provoked reprisals, and fatal retaliations were often made on both sides . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol I’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
” . . . Early troubles with the natives have unfortunately to be recorded. On May 2nd, 1838, in a P.S. to a despatch of April 27th, Sir Geo. Gipps writes to Lord Glenelg, —
“From the South, we have accounts of a large convoy of sheep and cattle belonging to a gentleman of the name of Faithfull having been attacked on the 13th ult. on the way to Port Phillip, and eight men killed out of eighteen, who formed Mr. Faithfull’s party. The particulars of this last occurrence I have not yet received, but I have directed a civil stipendiary magistrate and a party of the mounted police to proceed with all possible haste to the spot, and have given them particular instructions for their guidance. The blacks who are supposed to have murdered the two men belonging to the surveying party have been taken, and will be tried before the Supreme Court.”
The following letter of Colonel White, of the 96th Regiment, dated Left Bank of the Ovens, April 15th, 1838, informs the Colonial Secretary, “of a most furious attack having been made on 18 men of Mr. Wm. Faithfull’s, at the Swampy River or Winding Swamp, by about 300 of the aboriginal natives. It appears that on the morning of the 10th inst., when they were putting their bullocks to, the dash was made, when eight of the white men were unfortunately slain, and property, I believe considerable, destroyed. Mr. George Faithfull was on his way to this party when he fell in with one of the mangled corpses of the white men; several were found and buried. Mr. Faithfull has fallen back on my station with the escaped people, and one wounded man, who is so dreadfully lacerated, that I believe he cannot survive.”
A memorial, signed by eighty two colonists, landowners and proprietors of stock, dated Sydney, June 8th, 1838, calls the attention of Sir George Gipps to the state of “the new settlement at Port Phillip. . . . arising from the hostility of the aborigines.” and states that “many have been obliged to abandon their stations,” and that “the intercourse by land between this part of the territory and Port Phillip, if it has not already ceased, has become one of imminent danger to life and property.” The memorialists state, that “they are not aware of any aggression.
. . . which could have excited the blacks,” but that they “have been stimulated by their natural cupidity and ferocity.” . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Early History of the Colony of Victoria – Vol II’ – by Francis Peter Labilliere – published 1878
The incident became known as the “Faithful Massacre” and sadly lead to the murders of up to one hundred Aboriginal people . . .
View other important events in this Region’s History . . .
