Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Letter from JH Bannatyne to Other Windsor Berry relating to the Myall Creek Massacre, 17 December 1838

Letter from JH Bannatyne to Other Windsor Berry relating to the Myall Creek Massacre, 17 December 1838

Ink on handmade paper

MLMSS 9668

Purchased April 2015


In this letter, JH Bannatyne of Sydney tells his acquaintance in England ‘of a circumstance which has agitated the public mind in the Colony lately’. Bannatyne is referring to what is now known as the Myall Creek massacre where twelve European settlers, seeking revenge after conflicts with local Aboriginals, captured and murdered a group of approximately 30 Wirrayaraay people at Myall Creek.

Bannatyne adds a postscript to this letter having just returned from witnessing seven of the Europeans being hanged as punishment.


Due to a shortage of paper, as well as expensive postal charges, many 19th century letters were hand written using cross-hatching – where the original writing is overwritten at right angles with later script. 


The Myall Creek is a tributary of the Gwydir River in the New England region of New South Wales.