Aboriginal ‘resistance war’ tactics – ‘The Black War’ of southern Queensland

Raymond Constant Kerkhove

doi:10.5130/ccs.v6i3.4218

Abstract

Frontier violence is now an accepted chapter of Australian history. Indigenous resistance is central to this story, yet little examined as a military phenomenon (Connor 2004). Indigenous military tactics and objectives are more often assumed than analysed.Building on Laurie’s and Cilento’s contentions (1959) that an alliance of Aboriginal groups staged a ‘Black War’ across southern Queensland between the 1840s and 1860s, the author seeks evidence for a historically definable conflict during this period, complete with a declaration, coordination, leadership, planning and a broader objective: usurping the pastoral industry. As the Australian situation continues to present elements which have proved difficult to reconcile with existing paradigms for military history, this study applies definitions from guerilla and terrorist conflict (e.g. Eckley 2001, Kilcullen 2009) to explain key features of the southern Queensland “Black War.”The author concludes that Indigenous resistance, to judge from southern Queensland, followed its own distinctive pattern. It achieved coordinated response through inter-tribal gatherings and sophisticated signaling. It relied on economic sabotage, targeted payback killings and harassment. It was guided by reticent “loner-leaders.” Contrary to the claims of military historians such as Dennis (1995), the author finds evidence for tactical innovation. He notes a move away from pitched battles to ambush affrays; the development of full-time ‘guerilla bands’; and use of new materials.

Highlights

Frontier violence is an accepted chapter of Australian history
The author examines whether such a ‘state of war’ was recognized at the time, and whether there is sufficient evidence to conclude that intergroup collaboration, inventive strategies and broader military objectives were at work
The author utilizes definitions from guerilla and terrorist conflict (e.g. Eckley 2001, Kilcullen 2009) and identifies tactics, planning and objectives. He challenges the claims of military historians such as Dennis (1995) that Aboriginal strategies were devoid of innovation

Summary

Introduction

Frontier violence is an accepted chapter of Australian history. Indigenous resistance is obviously a part of this story, yet as John Connor notes (2004), the tactics and objectives of Aboriginal fighters are more often presumed than investigated. The author investigates Laurie’s and Cilento’s remarkable assertion (1959) that during the 1840s1860s an alliance of at least a dozen Aboriginal groups openly declared war in southern Queensland and conducted a highly effective ‘Black War’ that temporarily impeded settlement. Soon after war was declared by the ‘united tribes,’ 300 to 500 Mary River warriors poured across Conondale Ranges to attack Balfour’s station.22 Simultaneously there were raids all over the Darling Downs23 including the ‘Battle of One Tree Hill’ at Helidon (which temporarily routed the settlers).

Results

Conclusion