'Within an hour's ride' of the capital: the problem of sovereignty in 1859'

'Within an hour's ride' of the capital: the problem of sovereignty in 1859'

In April 1858 a Native Police detachment of eight troopers led by their white officer Lieutenant Williams came under attack from 300 Aboriginal men at the head of the Pine River. This attack is remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly this district is close to Brisbane and took place in what today are Brisbane’s northern suburbs after more than 34 years of British occupation and expansion through the district. Secondly it occurred only 14 months before Queensland was granted approval for separation and status as a self-governing colony. Thirdly standard histories assume that violence, disease and alcohol had rendered the Brisbane peoples demoralised and incapable of resistance at a much earlier date. This article investigates this attack and a number of other incidents of defiance to show the continued integrity of Aboriginal society in the region of Greater Brisbane in the lead up to separation. The reception of British law by some traditional owners was still down the barrel of a gun and their own laws insisted upon at the point of a spear.

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.