A mass killing, bodies burnt and a ‘conspiracy of silence’: An outback massacre is not forgotten

Descendants of those killed in the 1926 Forrest River massacre recently returned to the remote North Kimberley in Western Australia to mark the centenary of the event. The commemorations featured a formal acknowledgment from the Western Australia Police, who stated the massacre remains one of the most confronting chapters in the state’s policing history, according to Kimberley Superintendent John Hutchison.

The event took place on Balanggarra country following a violent altercation at a remote creek bed. An Aboriginal man named Lumbia fatally wounded a white pastoralist, Frederick Hay, which triggered a retaliatory search party consisting of 13 police officers and civilians, according to records from the 1927 Royal Commission.

Over several weeks, this party rounded up and murdered at least 11 Aboriginal people across three different sites. Forensic evidence collected at the time included pieces of teeth and charred bone found in improvised ovens constructed from large flat stones, according to the Royal Commission findings.

What happened during the Forrest River massacre?

The 1926 killings began after police and civilians set off on horseback to capture Lumbia. According to accounts from Daniel Evans and Colin Morgan, victims were shot and their bodies were burned in large bonfires or thrown into the river.

While the 1927 Royal Commission concluded 11 people were killed, local residents insisted the number was higher. Commissioner George Wood acknowledged the significance of approximately 30 people who had been visiting the Forrest River Mission and were never seen again after June 1925.

Despite the evidence, no one was convicted for the murders. Murder charges against the police officers leading the patrol were dismissed due to a lack of evidence, according to the State Records Office of Western Australia.

How did the WA Police respond at the centenary?

Kimberley Superintendent John Hutchison addressed the crowd at the memorial, which is marked by a white steel piping crucifix on a hill overlooking the old mission site. Hutchison stated that WA Police are not proud of the 1926 events and acknowledged the immense pain caused to the region.

This apology marks a shift in official positioning, as WA Police officers had denied the massacre occurred as recently as 2001, according to the provided report. Hutchison noted that the authority of police must always be exercised with humanity and ethics.

Ronnie Morgan, chairman of the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation, said the police acknowledgment helped provide closure. He described the feeling as if “a weight has been lifted,” according to Morgan.

What could happen next for the Balanggarra people?

The process of reconciliation may continue as the Balanggarra people work to bring the history of the massacre to the surface. Ronnie Morgan suggested that honesty about the past is a necessary step to move forward as “one Australia.”

Future efforts could involve further commemorations to ensure the history is understood by the rest of the country. However, the community continues to deal with the effects of dislocation, including the 2010 closure of the Oombulgurri community by the WA Government.

The relationship between the community and the state may be influenced by whether such acknowledgments lead to broader systemic changes in how historical traumas are recognized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the only person imprisoned following the massacre?
Lumbia, the Aboriginal man who fatally wounded pastoralist Frederick Hay, was the only person to serve jail time.

What evidence was found at the massacre sites?
The initial police investigation and Royal Commission uncovered charred bone, pieces of teeth, and improvised ovens made of large flat stones.

How many people are believed to have died?
The 1927 Royal Commission concluded 11 people were killed, though Commissioner George Wood noted that some 30 people disappeared from the mission around that time.

Do you believe formal apologies from state institutions are sufficient for achieving historical closure?