Details

Latitude

-17.408889

Longitude

124.943889

Start Date

1895

End Date

1895

Layer Warning:

This layer contains historical information about Aboriginal people that may be distressing. It contains names of people who have also passed away.

The freed prisoners and those who were camped at Lillimooloora joined up and walked to Bangilngan where they waited to attack the drovers. The drovers were forewarned but were convinced by one of them the Bunubu had gone deep into Milawundi Range (King Leopold Range) and that they would be safe. Jandamarra’s group set upon them. Two Aboriginal stock boys tried to gallop away but Jandamarra gave chase. He told them that he would only kill whites and to spread the word that he wanted others to join him. This act of resistance brought them a cache of weapons from a wagon that was accompanying the cattle drive. Jandamarra set about training the men how to use the guns. The counterattack, led by a man called Drewry, called for white men, black servants and all the arms that could be found. The WA Premier authorised the local magistrate to use ‘every endeavour’ to bring the murderers to justice. Drewry’s plan involved placing various sections of his party in positions inside the gorge or coming down the walls of the gorge. They stole in at night, when the sun rose they thought the gorge was empty. They were unaware of the Bunubu people hiding in the crevices and caves. Drewry’s men dug in and waited. A group of his men came down the wall of the gorge and saw the Bunubu. Once exposed Jandamarra’s party began firing from secret positions in the walls of the gorge, trapping Drewry’s men in the hot sun. There was a stalemate of firing. Then Ellemarra was hurt and died. The effect on the Bunubu group was shattering. Jandamarra showed himself and kept firing. He too was shot but be kept firing to cover the retreat of his people as the fled through the tunnels and passages to the Balili plateau; “It was an extraordinary escape, accomplished under cover of Jandamrra’s blazing rifle. Blood oozing from his wounds he held his rifle with one hand while supporting his body against a rock with the other. A bloodstained hand-mark testified to this courage and dedication to his countrymen, who had escaped to safety” (p.146). Drewry and his men went to Jandamarra’s cave believing the Bunubu would come out but there were only six women and three children who were immediately chained. Drewry believed the group would make a rescue attempt. It was not until the evening that Drewry realised the Bunubu army had escaped with most of the of cache weapons. 

Sources