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Massacre @ Myall Creek - Invasion of the Settlers.png
Colourised lithograph depicting the Myall Creek massacre
Myall Creek massacre is located in New South Wales
Myall Creek massacre
Myall Creek, New South Wales
Date 10 June 1838; 186 years ago (10 June 1838)
Location Myall Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Outcome
  • 7 perpetrators convicted of murder and hanged
  • 4 perpetrators acquitted
Deaths 28
Suspects 12

The Myall Creek massacre involved the killing of at least twenty-eight unarmed Indigenous Australians by twelve colonists on 10 June 1838 at the Myall Creek near the Gwydir River, in northern New South Wales. After two trials, seven of the twelve colonists were found guilty of murder and hanged. One—the leader and free settler John Fleming—evaded arrest and was never tried. Four were never retried following the not guilty verdict of the first trial.

Memorial

A memorial to the victims of the massacre was unveiled on 10 June 2000, consisting of a granite rock and plaque overlooking the site of the massacre. In 2001, a group of law students from the University of New England had an excursion to the site where they were welcomed by the Blacklock clan who conducted a smoking ceremony. A ceremony is held each year on 10 June commemorating the victims.

The Myall Creek Massacre and Memorial Site was included on the Australian National Heritage List on 7 June 2008 and the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 12 November 2010. The memorial is maintained and funded by the Friends of Myall Creek, an Australian non-profit organisation.

Painting

Sydney artist Ben Quilty created a painting of the massacre, based on a Rorschach ink blot, a technique he had used in previous paintings, entitled Myall Creek Rorschach. He consulted Gamilaraay elders Aunty Sue Blacklock and Uncle Lyall Munro before commencing his sketches for the work. A TV documentary, Quilty: Painting the Shadows made by filmmaker Catherine Hunter featuring this work and other work by Quilty, was shown on ABC TV in November 2019.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Masacre de Myall Creek para niños

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