Today's Stories from our Past

Over the past 170 years, the story of the Mark’s Murders has been told to Australians in greatly different ways, depending on the era. At the time, the murders were recorded in detail in official records. At that time, all Aboriginal people were known individually by name. Soon after the murders, a newspaper report falsely claimed that James Mark’s son was roasted alive and eaten by cannibals. This salacious report was perpetuated for the next 100-plus years during the period when ‘white triumphalism’ was taught in schools. In the last 40 years, ‘conflict studies’ have told the story from both sides but have been accused of exaggerating the number of Aboriginal deaths.

The fate of James Mark after his murderous spree on the McIntyre has never been investigated. We have found that he initially went to the Dawson River valley where he took up three runs which he subsequently sold at a good profit. He then bought Rosewood near Ipswich in Queensland and later moved to Emu Creek near Armidale in NSW. Along the way, he had three wives and more children. He was in court frequently and served a month in gaol for assault on one of his daughter-in-law’s family. Despite constant attendance at court, he was never arrested or tried for the murders in the McIntyre.

After the murders by James Mark and the subsequent actions by the Native Police, the Bigambul people were never the same. Many of the warrior men had been killed and they were excluded from their traditional water sources and hunting grounds. Hunger and disease killed many. On the other hand, Jonathan and Margaret Young prospered. After a few more years on the McIntyre, they sold Umbercollie and lived the remainder of their lives in comfort in the Hunter. John Watts went from stockman to politician. He used the murder of Mark’s son partly as justification of the continuation of the Native Police in Queensland.

Commissioner Bligh was unable to achieve law and order on the McIntyre. Partly at the instigation of Augustus Morris on Callandoon Station, the Native Police was formed under the command of Frederick Walker (a friend of Morris). The Native Police were Aboriginal men under the command of European officers. Walker aggressively pursued “ring leaders” and “trouble makers” amongst the Bigambul. Peace was achieved on the McIntyre but at the cost of many Aboriginal lives.

Following the murders on Umbercollie, Commissioner Bligh visited the site, inspected the body of Bootha and took depositions. He knew who committed the murders and ordered his Border Police constables to arrest the gang. Some were arrested but not James Mark. After more arrests, the subsequent court case was corrupted and no one was convicted of murder. James Mark was never arrested.

Following the attack on Umbercollie, a series of tit-for-tat murders occurred. Aboriginal women and children were murdered on Callandoon and Canning Creek Stations and then a bullock driver who was removing goods from James Mark’s station was murdered. However, there are some inconsistencies in some murders described in the Wallabadah Manuscript.

In mid-1847, James Mark and his family moved to Goodar station, about 45 km north-west of modern-day Goondiwindi. Soon after, the Bigambul murdered James’ son and mutilated his body. James Mark put a gang of stockman together and they roamed the area attacking local Aboriginal people. In June 1848, Mark’s gang attacked Aboriginal people on Umbercollie and murdered one woman. More murders followed.

John Watts describes how James Mark’s son was murdered and mutilated by the Bigambul, the local Aboriginal people. Following this, James Mark took revenge and, according to John Watts, he killed an innocent Aboriginal woman. This episode investigates the early life of James Mark and how James and his family arrived in Australia and moved to the McIntyre.

Jonathan and Margaret Young lived on Umbercollie, a station near where James Mark’s son was murdered by the Bigambul. Subsequently, many Aboriginal people were killed on their station. Margaret kept a journal which, although flawed, is an invaluable record of the murders that occurred between 1847 and 1849. This episode provides the background to Jonathan and Margaret prior to the first murder.

The Mark’s Murders occurred in 1847-49 around modern-day Goondiwindi and along the McIntyre River. Squatters first reached the McIntyre in 1837 but many were forced out of the McIntyre due to fierce resistance by the Bigambul people. This episode describes the different experiences of two early squatters on the McIntyre – Captain Scott and Tinker Campbell. Their experiences provide context for the subsequent events that unfolded in 1847.

The Mark’s Murders can only be understood by knowing how inland Australia was occupied by the squatters. This was based on terra nullius so no treaties are agreements were needed before the land was occupied by Europeans, known as squatters. The story of squatting is told through the life of John Browne, who was the son of convicts but became a successful businessman in the Hunter Valley and claimed huge areas of land.

In 1901, John Watts, an early squatter and politician in Queensland, wrote his Personal Reminiscences. He writes just 700 words about another squatter – James Marks. Watts says that Marks’ son was murdered and mutilated by the local Aboriginal people. In response, Marks vowed “vengeance against every black he came across”. Watts says that Marks murdered an innocent Aboriginal woman and was indicted for murder, but he was never captured or convicted. However, based on what we now know about early Queensland history, there may be more to this story. This episode is the start of the search for the truth of the Mark’s Murders.

This is the story of Uncle Jack, killed while cranking his own car – and his speedy car, the Willys Knight Tourer.

Guy Nantes was killed in a single-vehicle accident in 1957. This was a family tragedy as he was only 35 year old and was married with a young daughter. The accident is examined and it is concluded that Guy would not have been killed today due to improvements in tyre and vehicle design, and the introduction of seat belts. In 1957, the death rate on Australian roads was about 21 per 100,000 head of population. That rate rose to 35 in 1970 but now, thanks to improved car design and road rules, the rate has declined to about 4 per 100,000.

In December 1941, after 18 months of training, Australia’s Gull Force was sent to Ambon, an island in the Spice Islands of Indonesia, to halt the Japanese advance. By February 1942, after 4 days of fighting, the 1100-man strong battalion were prisoners of war. Some prisoners wanted to escape and some did. Lt Jinkins and six others escape from a Japanese POW Camp on Ambon by sea going around the Spice Islands to Darwin. This is their story.

In December 1941, after 18 months of training, Australia’s Gull Force was sent to Ambon, an island in the Spice Islands of Indonesia, to halt the Japanese advance. By February 1942, after 4 days of fighting, the 1100-man strong battalion were prisoners of war. This is the moving story of one of those POWs – the camp’s Padre, Charlie Patmore in a POW camp that had a higher percentage death rate than the Burma Railway.

The Wonga pigeon is a plump ground-dwelling pigeon in Australia. Aboriginals have Dreaming stories about the Wonga Wonga but when Europeans arrived, their white flesh meant that they became a food source. In addition to hunting for food in the days or early settlement and during the Great Depression, their numbers have been seriously decreased by foxes and sport shooting. However, with recent protection laws, their future appears to be secure.

In November 1836, the Africaine arrived at the western end of Kangaroo Island. This ship was one of the “first fleet” sent out to establish the new colony of South Australia. Six of the passengers believed that it would be a straightforward two-day journey to trek across the island. After ten days lost in the Australian bush without food and water, only four of the trekkers arrived at the eastern end of the island. The unknown question is why they decided to undertake the journey in the first place.

In November, 1836, the Africaine arrived at the western end of Kangaroo Island. This ship was one of the “first fleet” sent out to establish the new colony of South Australia. Six of the passengers believed that it would be a straightforward two-day journey to trek across the island. After ten days lost in the Australian bush without food and water, only four of the trekkers arrived at the eastern end of the island. The unknown issue is why they decided to undertake the journey in the first place.

In 1912, Alf Devaney was a stockman on Terrick Terrick Station near Blackall in Queensland. One morning, he rode out from his campsite. He did not tell anyone where he was going or when he would return. This was a fatal mistake. The story of Alf’s tragic death has been regarded as an Australian urban myth but, in reality, it is a true story and a timely warning of the workplace risks that faced by rural people.