Corn Field Raids of 1827-1828 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corn field raids 1827-1828 |
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Belligerents | |||||
Turrbal | |||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
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Mulrobin (Mulrubin) | ||||
Strength | |||||
400 estimated total South Brisbane Tribe |
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Casualties and losses | |||||
Total Casualties: Unknown |
The Corn Field Raids of 1827-1828 were a series of clashes in the early days of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. This was a time when British settlers were expanding into lands traditionally owned by the Turrbal people. The conflict happened because the Turrbal people tried to stop the new settlement from growing by destroying the settlers' food supply.
Contents
What Were the Corn Field Raids?
The Corn Field Raids were a conflict between the British settlers and the Turrbal Aboriginal people. The Turrbal people tried to make the British run out of food. They did this by repeatedly attacking and destroying the corn (maize) fields. These fields were located in areas like South Bank and Kangaroo Point.
Why Did They Happen?
The British had set up the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. This was a prison colony for convicts. To feed the people there, they planted large fields of corn. These fields were on land that the Turrbal people had lived on for thousands of years. The Turrbal people saw the settlers' farms as an invasion of their land and a threat to their way of life. By destroying the crops, they hoped to force the settlers to leave.
Who Was Involved?
The main groups involved were the British settlers and the Turrbal people.
The British Settlers
The British were represented by the Colony of New South Wales. This colony was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Key leaders included King George IV and Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Darling. The local commander at Moreton Bay was Captain Patrick Logan. He was in charge of the settlement and its defenses.
The Turrbal People
The Turrbal people are the traditional owners of the land around what is now Brisbane. They were fighting to protect their territory and resources. A key leader mentioned was Mulrobin (also known as Mulrubin). It's estimated that about 400 Turrbal people from the South Brisbane Tribe were involved in these actions.
What Happened During the Raids?
The raids involved the Turrbal people entering the corn fields. They would then pull up or destroy the corn plants. This happened many times between 1827 and 1828. The goal was to prevent the settlers from harvesting enough food. This would make it harder for the settlement to survive.
Locations of the Raids
The main areas targeted were the corn fields at South Bank and Kangaroo Point. These locations were important for the settlement's food supply. The repeated attacks showed the Turrbal people's strong resistance.
The Outcome
The Corn Field Raids did not have a clear winner. The Turrbal people managed to destroy many crops. This caused problems for the settlers' food supply. However, the British settlement did not leave the area. The conflict was part of a longer period of struggle between the Aboriginal people and the expanding British colonies. The exact number of people hurt or killed on either side is not known.