The Coniston Massacre - Making Peace with the Past

In 2003, the 75th anniversary of the Coniston Massacre was commemorated at Yurrkur (Brookes Soak), the site of the murder of dingo trapper Frederick Brooks on 7 August 1928,

This incident sparked a series of reprisals led by Constable Murray which lasted for three months and left many dead.

Last year an 80th anniversary commeroration was held at Baxters Well on the 20 August 2008.

. An interview commissioned by the CLC in 2003 with Kaytetye man Thommy Thompson tells graphically of the terrible events which happened at that particular site. You can read the transcription here

Read more about the Coniston Massacre in our 75th anniversary brochure Making Peace with the Past

At the 75th Coniston commemoration Constable Murray's great niece Liza Dale Hallett gave a speech

‘To infuse an universal terror: The Coniston killings of 1928' by Justin O’Brien formerly of the Northern Territory University History Department is a very informative paper