Talk:Coniston massacre

Untitled section

This article is really terrible, but I don't know enough about the topic to fix it up. I think great slabs of stuff need to be axed or have a reference attached.

The stuff on the inquiry is rediculous, those are very strong statements and need to be referenced or removed, even if they are true, for being original research. Also, the criticisms of the report need to be below the actual conclusion itself, otherwise it sounds too POV.

Studies section is a soapbox. It needs to be removed.

The reference on "effect on local tribes" is done incorrectly.

The section on "significe of the massacre" is also poor. Quote: the first instance, intervention of the law was so scanty that today it is possible, for students so disposed, to deny that it even took place. Students...? Is this from a school essay or something? Also, reviews on the topic have shown relatively convincingly that the forrest river massacre never actually happened. To say "deny" smacks of POV and does not properly inform the reader.

Cheers, 60.242.64.202 (talk) 14:27, 8 January 2010 (UTC) PS: if nobody's changed this in a few weeks or so I guess I'll probably attack and start trying to fix it.

Studies

Yes the "studies" section was clearly interpretive or opinion and not neutral at all. I think the whole studies section should go unless someone wants to put a bit more effort into it. 6thcolumn (talk) 06:37, 16 April 2010 (UTC)

Documentary

"More than 80 years after the brutal slaughter of 100 or more Aboriginal people in Central Australia, their descendants and community prepare to make the film which uses re-enactments and historical footage to tell their story." Coniston - 2011 Documentary.

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I think this article is terrible. To look at the real sources please look at these original reports https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=66518 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Drtavarua (talk • contribs) 23:28, 18 September 2018 (UTC)

Belated comment: To be clear, Bruce Elder and others have derided the Board of Inquiry as a complete whitewash. In any case, we only use primary sources such as this very carefully, and in this case, probably not at all except for basic uncontroversial facts like the names of the members of the Board of Inquiry and of the witnesses called. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 08:08, 4 August 2021 (UTC)

The jurisdictions in which the events took place

Hi everyone,

Between 1 February 1927 and 12 June 1931, Coniston cattle station was located within the Australian internal territory called Central Australia (territory). The murder trial discussed in the article was held in the Supreme Court of Central Australia which was located in Darwin in the Australian internal territory called North Australia (territory). Where necessary, content within the artilcle has been edited to reflect the above.

RegardsCowdy001 (talk) 04:02, 29 September 2018 (UTC)

Reference to White Australia policy in this article on the Coniston massacres.

It is stated that the White Australia policy was the main election platform of PM Bruce in the 1929 Federal Election. However, industrial relations was the central issue of the campaign with the government’s proposed abolition of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission a key point of dispute. The White Australia Policy had bipartisan political support during that era and in any case related to restrictions on immigration from countries other than Britain and not to policy relating to indigenous peoples. 2001:8003:1C62:4000:742C:AB2D:3D2E:F9ED (talk) 10:35, 24 July 2022 (UTC)

31 or "200"? Do we have a source on the 200 claim?

Why would soldiers under-count their fatality rate? Usually it's the opposite in engagements, soldiers will report 8000 dead and then you find out later from forensics studies it was 3 and a donkey or some shockingly smaller number. I've never heard of soldiers underestimating their death tolls. And balancing "Someone said 200." against actual military records is a bit odd. Do we have a source for the 200 number? ~2026-37004-18 (talk) 21:21, 14 July 2026 (UTC)

See this University of Newcastle research which includes a range of estimates, between the 31 claimed by Murray and 300. Their estimate (the most recent I believe) is 90. And BTW, they are not "military" records, they are the account of a police officer who led the three expeditions (Murray) who was a former soldier. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 04:58, 15 July 2026 (UTC)

Thank you Peacemaker67! Also - the listed reference is:

Bradley, Michael (2019). Coniston. Perth: UWA Press. ISBN9781760801045.

This is, of course, a very reputable book on the topic.

I don't have easy access to this book to check the claim/add the page number but, considering the University of Newcastle research is more recent should it be updated to include the range (as it is impossible to give a finite number?) Aliceinthealice (talk) 01:53, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

I would think the UofN research is the most recent, so a para summarising the numbers mentioned in their review of sources, ending with their estimate is probably best. I also think the UofN estimate (90) is the one that should be placed in the infobox, as they have obviously reviewed all the other sources and drawn their conclusion taking them into account. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 03:55, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

Thanks Peacemaker67 would you like to make the changes or should I? I am more then happy to and can make sure it is reflected that it comes from a group of massacres now commonly known as the Coniston Massacre.

Also ~2026-37004-18 the UofN state that the varying estimates come from Patrick Tucker, who worked with historian Dick Kimber, who said between 200 - 300 people were killed and additionally that Ada Wade (the daughter of Topsy Smith) said 200.

Kimber, based on his research, gave a conservative estimate of 70 to 80.

See here for more: https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/groups.php Aliceinthealice (talk) 23:57, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

Sorry, also the number 31 comes from official reports which notoriously underestimate numbers and exclude women and children. Aliceinthealice (talk) 23:58, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

Happy for anyone to make those changes as long as they are based on the sources. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 01:58, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

OK, I have started but do feel this page needs more work and will plug away when I have the brain power. Leave it with me Aliceinthealice (talk) 06:59, 17 July 2026 (UTC)