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Fighting Hills massacre

On 8 March 1840, a party of Western District squatters and convict employees killed 51 Aboriginal people of the Konongwootong gundidj clan (Jardwadjali) at The Hummocks near Wando Vale, Victoria, after a dispute over stolen sheep. No one was prosecuted.

UNSOLVED1840

The Hummocks, near Wando Vale, Victoria, Australia

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 8 March 1840, a massacre occurred at a location known as The Hummocks, near Wando Vale in Victoria's Western District, Australia. The killings were carried out by Victorian Western District squatters against Aboriginal people of the Konongwootong gundidj clan, part of the Jardwadjali people. Fifty-one Aboriginal men were killed in the attack.

The party responsible was led by the Whyte brothers — William, George, Pringle and James Whyte — along with their cousin John Whyte, who managed the Konongwootong pastoral run near what is now Hamilton, Victoria. They were accompanied by three convict employees: Benjamin Wardle, Daniel Turner and William Gillespie. The group set off on 8 March 1840 to recover more than 120 sheep that had reportedly been stolen the previous day. When they located Aboriginal people who were cooking and eating the missing sheep, the party attacked, killing 51 Jardwadjali men. The Whytes' party recovered all but 45 of the stolen sheep. One Aboriginal person survived the initial attack but was reportedly killed a month later.

The incident was investigated by Aboriginal protector Charles Sievwright. However, the depositions he collected were disallowed by Crown prosecutor James Croke on the grounds that they had not been "taken in accordance to the rules of law." Separately, John Whyte personally reported the incident — described in contemporary terms as an "affray" — to Superintendent Charles La Trobe and then to Chief Protector George Robinson. No further legal action was taken against any member of the party.

In the aftermath, a related event known as the Fighting Waterholes massacre occurred months later, reportedly involving some of the same individuals. In 1843, an employee of the Whytes' station was killed, an act believed by some to have been in retaliation for the earlier massacres.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
1840
Location
The Hummocks, near Wando Vale, Victoria, Australia
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1840-03-08

    A party led by the Whyte brothers and three convict employees killed 51 Jardwadjali (Konongwootong gundidj) people at The Hummocks near Wando Vale, Victoria, during a pursuit of stolen sheep.

  2. 1840-04

    The sole known Aboriginal survivor of the 8 March attack was reportedly killed.

  3. 1840

    Aboriginal protector Charles Sievwright investigated the incident; his depositions were disallowed by Crown prosecutor James Croke.

  4. 1840

    John Whyte reported the incident to Superintendent Charles La Trobe and Chief Protector George Robinson; no further action was taken.

  5. 1840

    The Fighting Waterholes massacre occurred months after the Fighting Hills massacre, reportedly involving some of the same party.

  6. 1843

    An employee of the Whytes' station was killed, believed by some to have been in retaliation for the earlier massacres.

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People

  • Daniel Turner

    CHARGED

    Convict employee who took part in the party that killed 51 Aboriginal people on 8 March 1840; no legal action was taken against him.

  • John Whyte

    CHARGED

    Cousin of the Whyte brothers and manager of the Konongwootong run; personally reported the incident to Superintendent Charles La Trobe and Chief Protector George Robinson; no legal action was taken.

  • Benjamin Wardle

    CHARGED

    Convict employee who took part in the party that killed 51 Aboriginal people on 8 March 1840; no legal action was taken against him.

  • William Gillespie

    CHARGED

    Convict employee who took part in the party that killed 51 Aboriginal people on 8 March 1840; no legal action was taken against him.

  • George Whyte

    CHARGED

    Member of the squatter party involved in the 8 March 1840 killings; no legal action was taken against him.

  • James Whyte

    CHARGED

    Member of the squatter party involved in the 8 March 1840 killings; no legal action was taken against him.

  • Charles Sievwright

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Aboriginal protector who investigated the incident; his collected depositions were disallowed by Crown prosecutor James Croke.

  • Pringle Whyte

    CHARGED

    Member of the squatter party involved in the 8 March 1840 killings; no legal action was taken against him.

  • William Whyte

    CHARGED

    Member of the squatter party that killed 51 Aboriginal people on 8 March 1840; reported the incident to colonial authorities but faced no prosecution.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

The Hummocks, near Wando Vale, Victoria, Australia

-37.4970, 141.4240

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 8 March 1840, a party of Western District squatters and convict employees killed 51 Aboriginal people of the Konongwootong gundidj clan (Jardwadjali) at The Hummocks near Wando Vale, Victoria, after a dispute over stolen sheep. No one was prosecuted.
Where did the massacre happen?
The Hummocks, near Wando Vale, Victoria, Australia.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Victoria

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICFighting Hills massacreWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. OFFICIAL / AGENCYContemporaneous coverage — trove.nla.gov.autrove.nla.gov.au · 2026-07-10
  3. OFFICIAL / AGENCYContemporaneous coverage — prov.vic.gov.auprov.vic.gov.au · 2026-07-10

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