The Memorial Story

From tragedy to reconciliation

The story of Myall Creek did not finish in 1838.

More than a century later, people began working to ensure the events that happened here would not be forgotten. The creation of the Myall Creek Memorial became a powerful act of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.

Today the Memorial stands near the site of the massacre — a place where visitors can learn, reflect and remember.

The beginning of the Memorial

The idea for a Memorial was first proposed in 1965 by Bingara resident Len Payne, who believed those who died at Myall Creek should be remembered.

For many years he returned to Myall Creek each June, laying wreaths and keeping alive the hope that one day a Memorial would be built.

In 1998, descendants of the massacre victims and members of the local community gathered at a conference hosted by the Uniting Church. From that meeting the Myall Creek Memorial Committee was formed and plans began to create a permanent Memorial.

JANUARY 1965

Len Payne, a Bingara resident, proposed the erection of a Memorial in the memory of those who died. “Memorial to be erected at Myall Creek” ran an article the Bingara Advocate, describing Payne’s desire to construct a Memorial using the hinges and slip rails from Myall Creek stockyards. The monument would take the form of a symbolic gate, suspended from a concrete pillar, on the site of the massacre. However the following week in the Bingara Advocate a letter condemned Len’s proposal, saying “the whole idea is ill conceived, unconsidered and mischievous and an insult to the Bingara people.” Len’s letter in reply was refused publication. The Apex Club decided against supporting the Memorial, and the idea was banished.

1980’S

Len with others every June 10 laid a wreath at the site. Len never lost hope that one day a Memorial would be built and up until his death in 1993 he continued to visit the site

OCTOBER 1998

A conference on reconciliation convened by the Uniting Church was held at Myall Creek on the invitation of Sue Blacklock a descendant of those who survived the Massacre. A number of concerned local people joined the conference. By the end of the meeting, the group decided to erect a permanent Memorial. The Myall
Creek Memorial Committee was later formed to carry out the proposal.

20 FEBRUARY 1999

The grounds for erecting the Memorial were established:

If we and our descendants are to live in peace in Australia then we have to tell and acknowledge that truth of our history. It is not that all of our history is bad, but the bad must be acknowledged along with the good, if we are to have any integrity. There is a code of silence surrounding the massacres. We want Australia to be an inclusive society, where Aboriginal and non Aboriginal are honoured and respect each other. This cannot happen until the history includes the stories of how Aboriginal people as well as nonAboriginal people experienced the history.

We owe it to those who died defending their country and families, or died as innocent victims of vengeance, to create a Memorial which reminds us of their part in our common history.

It is important to acknowledge the people who acted for justice in the story: Mr Hobbs, the manager of Myall Creek Station; Edward Denny Day, the officer who investigated the crime and others. The fact is that for the first time, the perpetrators of such crime in this country were brought to justice.

We are not pointing the finger at the people of Myall Creek or Bingara. The massacres went on all over the country

The descendants of those massacred at Myall Creek were unanimous in their support for a project involving both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

10 MARCH 1999

The descendants of those massacred at Myall Creek were unanimous in their support for a project involving both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The meeting decided on the site for the Memorial.

1 MAY 1999

In a meeting including many elders from throughout the region, Sue Blacklock spoke of having a simple Memorial. A large granite rock was suggested. The Rural Lands Protection Board gave permission to use part of the travelling stock route for the Memorial. Bingara Shire Council gave enthusiastic support. A grant was sought. Architect Tim Shellshear developed sketch plans.

29 JUNE 1999

It was decided the Memorial “is also for the purpose of reconciling Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people”. The wording and art work for the plaques was discussed and publication of a booklet about the massacre planned.

6 OCTOBER 1999

A further grant was sought through Heritage 2000.

4 DECEMBER 1999

The first grant was successful. The wording of the plaques was considered in great detail. The opening of the Memorial would be on June 10, 2000.

MARCH 2000

The Local Symbols of Reconciliation Project grant was successful.

The Walkway at the Memorial is a winding path representing, for Aboriginal people, the Creator Rainbow Serpent which wandered across the earth, forming the features of the landscape.

A granite rock weighing many tonnes was located. State Forest gave permission to move the rock and Transfield offered to move it. When the rock thudded into place, the Memorial was at last tangible In the words of Paulette Hayes speaking on behalf of the Myall Creek Memorial Committee at the opening of the Myall Creek Memorial, June 10th, 2000:

“We started out as a group of strangers from all around this area, all united in a common ideal of truth, justice nd reconciliation. As the meetings progressed, we became closer. I can remember the days when we all sat around the large table at lunchtime and shared our food amongst us…

“It was a memorable day when Des Blake, a descendant of one of the perpetrators, arrived at our meeting. We had not expected to hear from any of these descendants, but months later another descendant, Beulah Adams, came to a meeting. When she and Sue Blacklock hugged, we all felt we had really taken a step into the future.”

“Very soon we will all take a journey together. We will walk up the hill and along the serpentine path together, and as we walk down towards the rock, we will read about the massacre that happened here 162 years ago today. And as you walk, I ask only this of you. Think about those who died, speak to them, say a prayer for them, remember them. And as you return back along the path, take a stranger by the arm and walk back in peace, knowing that today you have taken a very big step towards justice, truth and reconciliation.”

The Walkway at the Memorial is a winding path representing, for Aboriginal people, the Creator Rainbow Serpent which wandered across the earth, forming the features of the landscape.

The Memorial Rock is surrounded by crushed white granite, white being the colour of mourning for Aboriginal people. The red gravel walkway reminds us of the blood that was shed in the massacre.

The Memorial Rock was surrounded with stones brought from all around the country, acknowledging that this history is part of the history of each one of us, and symbolises the commitment of each of us to truth-telling and reconciliation.

A Memorial built together

The Memorial was created through collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, including descendants of both the victims and perpetrators.

When the Memorial opened on 10 June 2000, 162 years after the massacre, it marked a deeply moving moment. Descendants met, embraced and walked the Memorial path together — a powerful step toward reconciliation.

SATURDAY 10 JUNE 2000

The Reconciliation Opening Ceremony

At the Memorial participants remembered, acknowledged our shared history, grieved, and committed ourselves to reconciliation.

WE REMEMBER

“We are descendants of, and represent, all those who carried out murder and mayhem on the slopes below” – Beulah Adams and Des Blake

“We are descendants of those who survived the massacres” – Aunt Sue Blacklock and Uncle Lyall Munro Senior

“We acknowledge this our shared history. We seek reconciliation between our peoples, and healing of the wounds of the past.” – All

“This is the history of every one of us; we are all heirs and survivors, beneficiaries and victims of its injustices and misunderstandings. We too want reconciliation and healing” – All participants, as the four embrace

WE ACKNOWLEDGE

that violence continued at places all over the country for 140 years
that it was all part of the taking of the land without negotiation or payment
that Aboriginal people rightly defended their land, families, culture and heritage
that there was a war between laws, cultures and belief systems
that this oppression continues into the present in the disrespect for Aboriginal culture
that history is still largely told from the view of non-Aboriginal people

WE GRIEVE

the lack of respect and negotiation in taking of the land
the destruction of language and culture
the breaking up of families and the forced separation of families

Aunt Sue Blacklock and Beulah Adams dedicated the monument “to the telling of our shared history, and to the reconciliation of our peoples.”.

WE COMMIT OURSELVES

to a just reconciliation
to tell the truth to our children and grandchildren
to search for more respectful, equitable and just ways of living together in the land, where a person’s lot will no longer determined on the basis of their ancestry or skin colour, where the history of 60,000 years is honoured together with the history of the last two centuries, where the glorious parts of that history are celebrated with pride, and the dishonourable parts are acknowledged with shame.

Aunt Sue Blacklock and Beulah Adams dedicated the monument
“to the telling of our shared history, and to the reconciliation of our peoples.”

Acknowledgments were made to: The work of the Committee, the Bingara Shire, Colin Isaacs (artist of the plaque illustrations), R F Gaites, Armsign, Phoenix Foundry, the Uniting Church, Transgrid, Transfield, the Heritage 2000 Fund and the special Ministerial grants of the New South Wales State Government, the Myall Creek Hall Committee, the Myall Creek Country Women’s Association, the Local Symbols of Reconciliation Project, including CAR, DIMA, COF, ATSIC, and ALGA.

Acknowledgments are also made to: The NSW Reconciliation Council grant to re-publish this booklet at the time, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs Tamworth for the website grant, the Department of Environment and Conservation for the interpretive sign and visitors book, Willloughby Council for road signage, the Sydney Che-il Korean Uniting Church for their generous donation and to Gwydir Shire Council and the local people for their wonderful assistance and ongoing support.

The Memorial walk

Visitors approach the Memorial along a winding walkway designed to reflect the path of the Rainbow Serpent, the Creator Spirit in Aboriginal culture.

Along the path are a series of plaques telling the story of the land, the people who lived here, the arrival of settlers, and the tragic events of 1838.

At the end of the walk stands the Memorial rock, overlooking the massacre site.

The red gravel path symbolises the blood shed in the massacre.
White granite surrounding the rock represents mourning in Aboriginal culture.

IN GAMILARAAY, PARAPHRASED IN ENGLISH

The Memorial Plaques

1. Ngurrambaa dhawun nhalay Wirrayaraaygu Gomeroigu.

From time immemorial, the Wirrayaraay tribe of the Gamilaraay lived here, caring for the land and harvesting the animals, fish, root crops, grains and fruits in a seasonal cycle.

The identity of the Wirrayaraay derived from their spiritual relationship with the land.

2. Yilaa Wanda dhaay yananhi ngaragay nguru dhimba milambaraay gaanhi.

In the 1830s European squatters began to send their servants into the district to establish cattle and sheep stations, occupying the land and using its grass and water resources to feed their stock.

3. Yilaa Mari Wanda bumalalanhi, balunhi burrulaa Mari gulbirr Wanda.

Conflict soon arose as the Europeans forced the Wirrayaraay off their ancestral lands, drove them away from creeks and waterholesand seized Aboriginal women.

The Wirrayaraay retaliated by spearing stock and attacking the stations and their personnel. Revenge killings began.

4. Yilaa burrulaa Mari nhama gandjibalu, bawurragu balubumay.

Towards the end of 1837 parties of European stockmen and station hands, encouraged by a punitive expedition of Mounted Police sent from Sydney, embarked on a bloody rampage throughout the region, hunting down and killing any Aboriginal people they could find.

Hundreds of Aboriginal people were slain.

5. Gulbirr Mari Wanda maliyaa ginyi.

In May 1838 a band of Wirrayaraay people took refuge from this onslaught on Myall Creek station below, at the invitation of one of the station hands. For the next few weeks they lived in peace around the station huts, and convivial relations were developed between them and the four-man staff.

6. On 10 June 1838 burrulaa bilaarrdhalibaa Wirrayaraay yinarr, gaayli, mari balubumay Wandagu.

On 10 June 1838, a gang of stockmen led by a squatter rode into Myall Creek Station and brutally murdered about twenty-eight unarmed women, children and old men.

The younger Wirrayaraay men were away cutting bark on a neighbouring station.

7. Gabamandu Wanda gagil nhama balubumay, Wandagubala burrulaa Mari balabumaldanhi.

Eleven of the twelve men who carried out the massacre were arrested, tried and acquitted. In a second trial seven of them were found guilty and executed. The squatter involved was never brought to trial. This was the first time that white men had been executed for murdering Aboriginal people.

However this did not end the massacres. They continued throughout the continent, often unreported, at least until the 1930s.

8. Dhiirranhi ngiyani ganunga.

In memory of the Wirrayaraay people who were murdered on the slopes of this ridge in an unprovoked but premeditated act in the late afternoon of 10 June, 1838.

Erected on 10 June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in an act of reconciliation, and in acknowledgement of the truth of our shared history.

We remember them.

Growing the Memorial precinct

The Memorial continues to grow as a place for education and cultural exchange.

Stage 1 – Memorial Walk (2000)
The original Memorial path and granite rock overlooking the massacre site.

Stage 2 – Cultural Space (2021)
An outdoor amphitheatre, Aboriginal garden, shade shelters and visitor facilities were added to create a place for gatherings, storytelling and cultural performance.

Stage 3 – Education and Cultural Centre (Proposed)
Plans are underway for a future centre that will provide exhibitions, learning programs and cultural experiences focused on truth-telling and reconciliation.

This centre aims to become a place where people can learn about the Myall Creek massacre, understand the impact of the frontier wars on Aboriginal communities, and explore pathways toward reconciliation.

A place to remember

Each year people gather here for the Myall Creek Commemoration, walking the Memorial path together and remembering those who lost their lives.

Today the site is listed on both the NSW State Heritage Register and the National Heritage List, recognising its importance in Australia’s history.

Myall Creek stands as a place where the truth of the past is acknowledged — and where the journey toward reconciliation continues.

See upcoming commemorations and events