More than 10,000 First Nations people killed in Australia’s frontier wars, final massacre map shows
More than 10,000 First Nations people killed in Australia’s frontier wars, final massacre map shows
‘Horrendous’ eight-year long project has ended with final fact check, leaving a legacy ‘nobody can argue’ with, says researcher
Summary
The Colonial Frontier Massacres Digital Map Project has documented over 10,000 Indigenous deaths in at least 438 massacres during Australia’s colonial era.
Led by historian Dr. Lyndall Ryan, the eight-year study found that police and settlers, often with state approval, were responsible for most killings.
The Myall Creek massacre in 1838 marked the first convictions for such crimes.
Researchers say the project dispels past denial of frontier violence, making historical truth undeniable. The findings are now archived for future study.