On this serene land, a chilling chapter of history unfolded. The Mount Cottrell Massacre, a tragic event of 1836, casts a long shadow. The Mount Cottrell Massacre was a violent reprisal, a stain on the early days of European settlement in Victoria.
The Mount Cottrell Massacre took place on July 16, 1836. It stemmed from the killing of two European settlers, Charles Franks and his shepherd, Thomas Flinders. Their mutilated bodies were discovered near their hut, sparking outrage and fear among the settlers. A group of 17 men, including some Aboriginal trackers, set out seeking revenge. They tracked a group of Wathaurong people near Mount Cottrell.
At dawn, the armed settlers attacked. They fired upon the Wathaurong people, killing an estimated ten. Some accounts claim a much higher death toll, up to 35, based on Aboriginal oral history. The Cornwall Chronicle, a Tasmanian newspaper, even reported that the settlers had “annihilated” the group. The incident highlights the brutal conflicts that marked the frontier between settlers and Indigenous Australians.
The Mount Cottrell Massacre sparked a divided reaction. Some settlers applauded the revenge, seeing it as a necessary deterrent against future attacks. Others condemned the violence, questioning the legality and morality of the massacre. The newly appointed Port Phillip Magistrate, William Lonsdale, launched an investigation. While the men admitted firing on the group, none were charged. The Mount Cottrell Massacre is a somber reminder of a turbulent period. It is a story of loss, conflict, and the complex relationship between settlers and Indigenous Australians.