(5) Massacre
Gudyarra (war) and the Bicentennial of Martial Law 2024 (5) - Massacre It is impossible to know exactly when each of the massacres around the Central West occur, how many there are, or what exactly takes place as they are not officially recorded. [1] After the Coxes arrive around 1821/1822 at ‘ Guntawang’ and ‘Menah’ [2] between Mudgee and Gulgong, it becomes an area of ongoing conflict between Coxes’ workers and the local Wiradjuri. George Henry Cox later describes one where ‘during an encounter at ‘Guntawang’ there were no less than seven whites killed, while the number of blacks slaughtered was never ascertained. The warfare was at all times pursued with unrelenting severity, men women and piccaninnies were indiscriminately killed.’ According to George Cox they end up abandoning the ‘Guntawang’ run in 1825. Sites mentioned in relation to massacres around Mudgee district. (Image: A.Maie) During 1824 it appears as if a number of massacres take place i...