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EUROBODALLA ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDY
South Coast NSW
them and for reasons that are not recorded there was conflict between the two groups.
Three of the five Europeans were killed; it is not recorded if any of the Aboriginal
men were injured. 17 The Sydney newspaper of the time recorded the incident in the
following terms:
On Tuesday the Resource government vessel came in with coals and
cedar from Hunter’s River. She brought accounts of the arrival there of
the Fly colonial vessel, on Monday the 2d instant, with the loss of three
of her crew out of five, who were murdered by the coast natives at
Bateman’s bay a few days before. The Fly sailed from hence for
Kangaroo Island some weeks since ; but being overtaken by bad
weather and contrary winds, was obliged to take shelter at Bateman’s
bay, and then send on shore for water. The three unfortunate persons
whose fate it was to fall under the barbarity of the natives, were sent on
shore with a cask, having previously arranged a mode of giving an
alarm from the vessel, in case of obvious danger, by the discharge of a
musket. Shortly after they landed, a body of natives assembled about
the boat, and a musket was accordingly discharged from the vessel –
the unfortunate men returned precipitately to their boat, without any
obstruction from the natives, but had no sooner put off from the shore
than a flight of spears was thrown, which was continued until all the
three fell from their oars. The savages immediately took and maned
(sic) the boat, and with a number of canoes prepared to attack the
vessel ; which narrowly escaped their fury by cutting the cable, and
standing out to sea. The names of the murdered men were, Charles
Freeman, Thomas Bly, and Robert Goodlet. 18
In 1821 another ship, this one carrying cedar cutters heading for the Illawarra, took
shelter from a storm at Bateman’s Bay. The people of Bateman’s Bay again met the
intruders with violence, killing one man and injuring another and forcing the ship to
head back to sea. 19 The following account is taken from the newspaper of the time and
was based on the account of one of the cedar cutters, Thomas Whittaker:
Whittaker, from whom we obtain the present account, states, that he
left Sydney (in company with [Jas.] Block and [Henry] Thorn) about
midnight… and had a fine north-easterly breeze ; that when they came
off the place of their destination [the Illawarra], it was discovered they
had too great an offing, and, owing to the wind freshening the boat was
prevented from bearing up ; they were therefore compelled, having
overshot their port, to run to the southward, which they continued to do
till they reached Bateman’s Bay, between 80 and 100 miles from
Illawarra. In this bay they encountered a heavy squall, and after intense
difficulty made a small island, on which they landed, kindled a fire,
and after refreshing themselves, anchored off the shore. The next
morning (Easter Sunday) at daylight, they were suddenly attacked by
about twelve natives, with a discharge of 50 or 60 spears, followed up
by a continued volley of stones. James Brock was thrice speared ; one
17 th
Ellis, op.cit., p.14. ; Gibbney, op.cit., pp.14-15. ; Sydney Gazette, 15 May, 1808, p.2.
18 th
Sydney Gazette, 15 May, 1808, p.2.
19
Ellis, op.cit., pp.14-15.
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