The 1850s East Ballina Massacre

“There was two camps, tribes, down in Ballina. One from East Ballina, another one from South Ballina, over the river there. They call it Dungungully……Well they poisoned them from over there, poisoned all the Black fellas over there. In East Ballina they bought in an army [Native Police] from Brisbane, shot ‘em out.” Uncle Douglas Cook 1983

Events surrounding the tragedy

It was alleged in Brisbane around 1853–54 (before the State of Queensland was formed) that Aboriginal people had killed some white men north of the Tweed and had fled south to the Richmond.

A patrol of Native Police Troopers under the control of white officers was dispatched, and following their arrival at Ballina they camped at Shaws Bay.

In the early hours of the next morning the Troopers ascended the hill in the direction of the present reservoir. At the time, between 200 and 300 Aboriginal people lay asleep at their favoured camping locations along the ridge slope toward Black Head.

The Troopers surrounded the camp and, when close, opened fire. Men, women and children were massacred.

It is said that between 40 – 50 Aboriginal people were killed outright and many more were badly wounded, but it is probable the number killed is much understated. Many were buried where they fell and their graves may still be found among the sand ridges of East Ballina and Angels Beach.

It is said that a group of women and children were herded to Black Head and rather than be shot by the Troopers, they jumped to their death at the ocean cliff face. Their bodies were washed into sea caves at the base of the cliff. (In later years the caves and cliff face were quarried to provide rock for the stabilisation of the Richmond River bar and estuary).

After the attack the Trooper patrol returned north and the white settlers of East Ballina reported the unprovoked massacre to the NSW Government. No action against the Troopers was ever taken.

"East Ballina is a very significant place to Aboriginals today, we were told about the massacre that happened in the 1800s.” Uncle Artie Ferguson 2015

“It is a very significant place, as a lot of non-indigenous people don’t know what happened over at East Ballina. My mother, Mavis Combo told me about it, so I think it is good to tell the story as it will explain exactly what happened.” Uncle Adie Davies 2015