Next Monday, Campbelltown Council will commemorate one of the worst colonial massacres in the history of NSW.
The Appin Massacre was carried out on the orders by the then Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, in reprisal for disputes between white settlers and Aboriginal groups.
Tragically there was no evidence the group of Dharawal people that were targeted had any link to prior clashes in the area.
Documents in the NSW State Government archive record how soldiers attacked the group at their camp at 1am on April 17, 1816, driving them towards a precipice with gunfire.
While 14 bodies were counted, others were believed lost and unaccounted for in the gorge.
Only two women and three children survived according to the account of Captain James Wallis, who led the attack.
This year’s remembrance ceremony will be held next Monday, April 19, in the council building forecourt along Queen Street.
It will pay tribute to the 14 Dharawal men, women and children who perished during the massacre.
Mayor George Brticevic says the ceremony is an important event for the whole Macarthur region.
“It is imperative we continue to remember the Appin Massacre and the tragic loss of life on that day to better understand our collective history,” Cr Brticevic said.
“While events like this may have happened many years ago, they have a lasting impact on people today, particularly the Aboriginal community, so we’re committed to holding events like this to pause and reflect together as a community,” he said.
The council memorial will be held from 10am to 10.30am, when flags will be lowered to half-mast for the day.
Macarthur Elder, Aunty Glenda Chalker, will deliver the Welcome to Country speech, while the mayor will also address the gathering, which will be open to the public.
