Convincing Ground massacre

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When Portland, Victoria was established as a whaling station in 1829, there was tension between the local Aboriginal tribe, The Gunditjmara and the whalers. In 1833 this tension turned into a full fleged massacre.^[1]

1 Causes
2 The massacre
3 Present day controversy
4 References

[edit] Causes

The dispute appears to have arisen over the ownership of a beached whale.^[2]

[edit] The massacre

While reports are varied on casualities, it is clear that the Gunditjmara where throwing spears and the whalers firing guns. Reports were unclear as to casualities as the first reports on the matter reported no casualities but later reports stated only two members survived the massacre.Other reports vary between 60 and 200 aboriginals killed.^[3] The reason for this uncertainty appears to stem from the fact that the reports was written with the help of Aboriginals who did not in fact speak the local dialect.

[edit] Present day controversy

In 2005 a developer was granted the right to build homes on the site. This cause a dispute between the Western Victoria's Glenelg Shire Council and the local Koori community on whether or not the location should be protected.^[4]