Convincing Ground massacre facts for kids

The Convincing Ground Massacre was a sad and violent event that happened a long time ago in Australia. It was a conflict between the Gunditjmara people (specifically the Kilcarer gundidj clan) and British whalers who had settled near Portland Bay. This event was part of bigger conflicts known as the Eumeralla Wars, which were fought between the British settlers and the Gunditjmara people.

Tensions had been growing for about five years since the whalers set up their station. Around 1833 or 1834, a disagreement over a beached whale led to the massacre. Today, experts and government officials recognize the Convincing Ground as a very important historical site in Victoria. Professor Lynette Russell from Monash University even called it "probably the first recorded massacre site for Victoria." The area, which is in Portland Bay near the town, is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register to protect its history.

What Caused the Conflict?

The main reason for the fight was a disagreement about who owned a beached whale. For the Gunditjmara people, whales that washed ashore were a traditional and important source of food. They believed the whale belonged to them. However, the whalers also wanted the whale.

When the whalers challenged the Gunditjmara people, the Gunditjmara were determined to stand up for their rights to the whale. This led to a very serious confrontation.

The Massacre at Convincing Ground

According to early reports from people like Edward Henty and Police Magistrate James Blair, the whalers went back to their station and returned with their guns. George Augustus Robinson, who was the Protector of Aborigines (a person appointed to look after Indigenous people), wrote in his journal in 1841 that the whalers "let fly" their guns at the Indigenous people. He noted that the Gunditjmara people didn't run away but hid behind trees and threw spears and stones.

Early reports didn't mention how many people were hurt or killed. However, later reports from 1842, after Robinson spoke with Gunditjmara people, said that only two members of the Kilcarer gundidj clan survived the massacre.

When Did It Happen?

It's a bit unclear exactly when the massacre happened because it was only written down several years after it took place. The first time the name "Convincing Ground" appeared in writing was in Edward Henty's diary on October 18, 1835.

George Augustus Robinson visited the site in 1841. He spoke with local settlers and wrote an official report. He said: "Among the remarkable places on the coast, is the 'Convincing Ground', originating in a severe conflict which took place in a few years previous between the Aborigines and the Whalers on which occasion a large number of the former were slain. The circumstances are that a whale had come on shore and the Natives who fed on the carcass claimed it was their own. The whalers said they would 'convince them' and had recourse to firearms."

It wasn't until March 23, 1842, that Robinson heard the full story from 30 Gunditjmara men and women. They told him that almost all of the Kilcarer gundidj clan were killed. The two survivors, Pollikeunnuc and Yarereryarerer, were taken in by another clan, the Cart Gundidj. After the massacre, the Cart Gundidj clan avoided the settlement of Portland.

Historian Richard Broome believes that about 60 people were killed in the Convincing Ground massacre. Bruce Pascoe, in his 2007 book Convincing Ground - Learning to Fall in love with your country, wrote: "The battle site became known as the Convincing Ground, the place where the Gundidjmara were ‘convinced’ of white rights to the land. The Gundidjmara were beaten in that battle but never convinced of its legitimacy."

Where Did the Name 'Convincing Ground' Come From?

There are a few ideas about how the name "Convincing Ground" came about:

• The Conflict Account: Edward Henty and Police Magistrate Jim Blair told a story about a violent fight where whalers tried to "convince" the Indigenous people that the land and resources belonged to the Europeans. This led Robinson to report that many people were killed.
• Whalers' Disputes: Another idea is that it was a place where whalers themselves settled their arguments.
• Explorer's Naming: A popular story said that explorer Thomas Mitchell named the site when he visited in August 1836. However, Henty's diary mentioned the name in October 1835, before Mitchell's visit, so this idea isn't likely.

Historian Professor Ian D. Clark believes the account from Henty and Blair, as told to Robinson, is the most likely origin of the name.

There is also a fourth, very important account: the oral history from the Gunditjmara people. They say that a massacre happened there, almost wiping out an entire clan, to "convince them" that the land now belonged to the white settlers.

Professor Clark explained in a 2007 documentary: "If we deny the history that goes with the Convincing Ground - and that is both the very good documentary evidence that we have, plus the very good oral history that we have from the Gunditjmara people, we are denying Aboriginal people their history, and if we deny Aboriginal people their history, we are denying a major part of the history of Australia."

Why Do Some People Doubt the Massacre?

Some people, like Keith Windschuttle and Michael Connor, have questioned whether the massacre actually happened. They suggested it might be a "myth." However, historian Ian Clark has carefully studied the historical records and shown that their arguments were based on misunderstandings of the history. Most historians and experts agree that the massacre did take place.

Protecting the Site: The 2005-2007 Controversy

In 2005, a plan was made to build homes on the Convincing Ground site. This caused a big disagreement between the local Glenelg Shire Council and the local Koorie (Indigenous Australian) community. The Koorie community wanted the site to be protected because of its historical and cultural importance.

Walter Saunders, a traditional owner from the Kilcarer clan and a descendant of one of the two massacre survivors, explained why the site is so important on ABC Local Radio: "It stands on the same level as the Eureka Stockade and Gallipoli from our perspective. It is the first recorded massacre in the state. This is where Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people fought over the resources of this great country and they happened to kill a large number of my relatives and my mother's relatives."

After much discussion, a confidential agreement was reached in 2007. Some development would still happen, but the "Convincing Ground" itself would become a public reservation. This means it will be protected and open for people to visit and learn about its history.