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Michael TobinPrint Page Print this page

04-June-2016
04-June-2016

Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin

The grave was erected in memory of Michael Tobin who was fatally speared by an indigenous Australian in April 1907.  Tobin was a member of the exploration party led by Alfred Canning.

On the Canning Stock Route the wells built by Alfred Canning became sites of conflict between cultures. Conflict on the stock route was also triggered by, and in response to, the men who made the wells, and the drovers who came to use them.

During Canning's return to Wiluna in 1907, Michael Tobin, was fatally speared at Natawalu (Well 40). In the same moment Tobin shot and killed Mungkututu, the indigenous Australian man who had speared him. To this day, the reasons given for this incident are varied. One account says that Tobin had taken Mungkututu's wife, while another says that it was revenge for the theft of sacred objects by Canning's men. 

 

Location

Address:Canning Stock Route, near Well 40, Tobin Lake
State:WA
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -21.667166
Long: 125.791416
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Grave
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Frontier
Actual Event Start Date:06-April-1907
Actual Event End Date:06-April-1907

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1908
Front Inscription

Sacred to the memory of Michael Tobin

Speared - 6 / 4 / 07

Erected by M. W. S. Dept, 08

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
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