A warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers that this article contains references to people who have died.
CONISTON, NT. — The Coniston Massacre was the last known massacre of Australian Aborigines. Occurring at Coniston cattle station, Northern Territory, Australia, it was a revenge killing for the death of dingo hunter Frederick Brooks, who was believed to have been killed by Aborigines in August 1928.
Constable William Murray, officer in charge at Barrow Creek, investigated and concluded that the killing had been done by members of the Warlpiri, Anmatyerre and Kaytetye people. There were no witnesses, and apparent inconsistencies in Murray’s report were never questioned.
Murray took matters into his own hands. Over the next few days, up until August 30, he shot 17 members of the Aboriginal tribes he believed were responsible, and claimed his actions were made in self-defence and that each tribal member he had killed owned some item belonging to Brooks.
In the ensuing weeks, Murray again encountered several groups of Aborigines while investigating another non-fatal attack on a settler named Nugget Morton at Broadmeadows Station. Together with Morton, one other white man and an Aboriginal boy, Murray embarked on a campaign of revenge, during which another 14 Aborigines were killed.
Murray was never punished for his actions. On the contrary, the Board of Enquiry members were selected to maximise damage control.
It was believed at the time that Murray’s actions were appropriate for the circumstances.
The Central Land Council organised the seventy-fifth anniversary of the massacre, commemorated near Yuendumu on September 24, 2003.
