Dundalli facts for kids

An 1855 drawing of Dundalli by Silvester Diggles

Dundalli (born around 1820 – died January 5, 1855) was an important Aboriginal lawman. He played a big role in the conflicts between early European settlers and the Aboriginal people in the Brisbane area of South East Queensland. For a long time, he was seen as a dangerous person. However, today, many believe he was a leader who organized a long period of resistance against European settlement in his people's lands. He was publicly hanged in Brisbane in 1855.

Dundalli's Early Life

Dundalli was born into the Dalla tribes. He was likely a son of the Dalambara clan. He grew up with his brother, Oumulli, in the Blackall Range. This area was rich in resources and had beautiful scenery with waterfalls and deep gorges. The uplands of the Glass House Mountains, D'Aguilar, Conondale, and Jimna ranges were the homelands of the Dalla people. They spoke a language similar to Kabi Kabi.

Dundalli received his name when he became a full member of his tribe. His name meant wonga pigeon. His brother Oumulli's name meant "breast," which might also refer to the same type of pigeon. Dundalli was very tall. The judge at his trial said he was "the largest man I ever looked upon," standing well over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall.

Years of Growing Conflict (1840–1854)

Dundalli and another clan member, Anbaybury, were chosen to represent the Dalla people. They met with German missionaries at Toorbul. They wanted to invite the missionaries to set up a base in Dalla country. In 1842, a missionary named Carl Wilhelm Schmidt reported that some settlers were using poisoned flour to clear Aboriginal people from their lands. This meeting happened in August 1841. The missionaries had come north from Brisbane in 1838 to work in the Moreton Bay area.

Around the mid-1840s, Dundalli joined the Djindubari people, who were the traditional owners of Bribie Island. He moved to that area. During this time, the Djindubari became very protective of their island's resources. Authorities began issuing warrants for Dundalli's arrest in 1846.

Key Events and Clashes

• 1840–1841: European settlers began moving into new lands in the north.
• 1841: Several stations were set up on Aboriginal lands, including those of the Dalla, Wakka Wakka, Yaggera, and Archer brothers.
• 1841 September: Dalla or Yaggera men took sheep and raided stock. This was likely a way to show their disapproval of settlers moving onto their lands.
• 1842 January: A tragic event known as the Kilcoy massacre occurred. Many Aboriginal people died near a station, possibly due to poisoned food.
• 1842 June: Dundalli met John Gilburri Fahy, an escaped Irish convict.
• 1842 May: A large meeting of tribal landowners took place at Tiaro. They discussed how to respond to the deaths of relatives from nine to ten tribes at Kilcoy.
• 1843 March: A Djindubari man, Cambayo, injured a shepherd at Durundur station. Dundalli was present.
• 1843 July: Gubbi Gubbi men caused the deaths of four shepherds at the Eales station on the Mary River.
• 1844 November: Another large intertribal gathering, called a pullen-pullen, happened near Brisbane on the Logan River. Soon after, a shepherd at Kilcoy was attacked.
• 1845 March: A large pullen-pullen was held near Brisbane. A week later, a pastor, John Hausmann, was injured in an attack at Redcliffe. It is thought Dundalli might have arranged this attack as a traditional payback for the Kilcoy massacre, which had affected the Ningy Ningy people.
• 1846 October: As Gubbi Gubbi, Dalla, Djindubari, Turrbal, and perhaps Undanbi tribesmen returned from a pullen-pullen, many attacked Gregor's homestead. Mary Shannon and Andrew Gregor died, but the Aboriginal people spared the Shannon's three children.
• 1846 November: White workers ambushed and caused the death of a Turrbal chief named Yillbong (Milbong Jemmy) at Doboy Creek. He was rumored to be involved in the Gregor deaths.
• 1846 December: Another large pullen-pullen, with 300 to 400 people, was held near Brisbane at York's Hollow. Police raided the camp, and some people were injured or died. This was seen as a reprisal by the white settlers.
• 1847 September 10: Three workers were attacked by Gubbi Gubbi and Djindubari men at the Pine River. Two of them died.
• 1848 May: Dundalli's brother Oumulli died after being taken into custody during a raid on an Aboriginal camp.
• 1849 July: An elderly fisherman, Charles Gray, died near Bribie Island after a conflict with some Djindubari people. Gray had assaulted a young native boy the day before. Authorities believed Gray's actions likely led to his death. Dundalli was also blamed for this event.
• 1851 June: Mickaloe, a Gubbi Gubbi man and ally of Dundalli, was taken into custody by police. He was suspected of being involved in the conflict where the Pine River workers died.
• 1851 July: Dundalli challenged naturalist Frederick Strange to a hand-to-hand fight. This might have been a response to Mickaloe's arrest or a concern that Strange was trying to arrest him or intruding on Bribie Island.
• 1852 April: Two survivors from a shipwreck died on the Cooloola coast at Wide Bay. Gubbi Gubbi Dulingbara clanspeople took their belongings, possibly for trespassing or in revenge for news that Mickaloe might be executed.
• 1852 June: A large group of Aboriginal people, including Mickaloe, took supplies from Mrs. Cash's station and a nearby surveyors' camp in the Pine River area. Dundalli, who was present, made sure no one was harmed. The local newspaper even reported that Dundalli personally saved Mrs. Cash's life.
• 1852 June: Michael Halloran, a shepherd, died on McGrath's Pine River station. Mickaloe and Billy Barlow, another ally of Dundalli, were among the group involved.
• 1853: The Ningy Ningy people attacked Thomas Dowse and his sons as they tried to set up a station at Sandgate.

Dundalli's reputation as a leader involved in these events grew. While no witnesses directly saw him participate in all the attacks, they claimed he was present. Historians now believe these rumors show his important role in traditional Aboriginal law. He helped decide how to apply the principle of "payback" or justice for injuries suffered, after agreements were made through large tribal discussions.

Arrest, Trial, and Hanging

After a large pullen-pullen took place in Brisbane in December 1853, Dundalli returned to the city in May 1854. This gathering was a ceremonial fight between the Ningy Ningy and Djindubari against the Nunukul and Logan River Yugambeh. It was meant to end feuds. Dundalli may have believed that tribal justice had brought peace. He had not sought revenge for his brother's death, had challenged Strange fairly, and had saved Mrs. Cash. These actions suggest he was trying to be moderate.

According to Tom Petrie, Dundalli was working for a bricklayer named Massie, cutting down a tree near what is now Brunswick Street and Wickham Street. His presence in town was revealed when a Turrbal enemy, Wumbungur, told the police.

The trial was led by Roger Therry. He had previously supported the rights of Aboriginal people to justice. However, during Dundalli's trial, some suggest he was intimidated by Dundalli's large size and his clear disregard for the court. The evidence against Dundalli is now considered weak.

On November 21, 1854, Dundalli was found guilty and sentenced to death for the death of the worker William Boller. The execution happened on January 5, 1855, at the site of what is now the Brisbane GPO. Many Aboriginal people, including Djindubari, Ningy Ningy, and Turrbal, gathered at Windmill Hill. The police in Brisbane were on high alert, and many people left the city, fearing hostile reactions from the Aboriginal community. A crowd of white people gathered to watch. Dundalli saw Petrie in the crowd and spoke to him in his language. He also called out to Aboriginal people, including his wife, on a nearby hill. He told them that Wumbungur was responsible for his capture and asked them to seek justice against him. Others say he called on his people to continue fighting the settlers.

What Happened Next

Historians like Libby Connors suggest that the authorities' strong desire to execute Dundalli was not just about punishing one man. It was also an attempt to break down the ancient legal system of southeast Queensland.

In his memories, Judge Therry described Dundalli as a very fierce man whose actions were deeply wrong. He also wrote that Dundalli showed a "sad and pitiful inferiority" compared to Europeans.

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