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Home » Themes » Conflict » Indigenous
Wills Massacre Print Page 
The graves and site commemorate the massacre of nineteen Europeans by Aborigines from the Kairi tribe on "Culling-La-Ringo station. This was the largest recorded massacre of Europeans in Australian history. Horatio Wills (station owner) and his people were buried in a grave at the scene of the massacre, which is remembered in a headstone.
It was a retaliatory massacre, part of the savage frontier guerrilla war that was being waged at the time. Fifty miles from Cullin-la-ringo and north of the Expedition and Staircase Ranges, some local graziers in 1861 were poisoning Kairi Kairi water holes and shooting Aboriginal people, while the Native Mounted Police were being encouraged to forcibly evict Aboriginal people from station and river camps.
Note: It is believed permission may be required to view this site. Ask at Springsure Visitor Information Centre in William Street for details.
Location
| Address: | Garden Creek Road, via Birtley Road, Springsure, 4722 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -23.974234 Long: 147.910339 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Grave |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | Indigenous |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 17-October-1861 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 17-October-1861 |
| Link: | https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colo… |
