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Coniston - The last known massacre in Australia - The untold story

Rebel Films

101,477 views

In 1928, more than one hundred Aboriginal people were killed in what is widely regarded as Australia's last major frontier massacre. This award-winning documentary uncovers the events of the Coniston Massacre through the voices of survivors, historians and Traditional Owners.

For decades, much of the truth remained untold.

Filmmaker David Batty spent years working with Warlpiri families, historians and eyewitness accounts to piece together one of Australia's most confronting stories.

CONISTON is an award-winning documentary that explores the events leading up to the massacre, the official response, and the remarkable resilience of those who survived.

If you enjoy documentaries about history, Indigenous Australia, the Australian Outback and untold true stories, subscribe to Rebel Films for more award-winning films from Australia's wildest places.

00:00 Introduction
02:10 Government Bullets
07:19 Bullfrog
12:57 Massacre training camp
21:10 Fred Brooks Camp
29:05 Bullfrog out to kill Brooks
35:25 Government shooting party
40:10 Bullfrog escapes
49:39 The killing continues

20 Comments

@natali4009 11 months ago (edited)

I’m an English immigrant… to Australia 1965 10 pound pom..
Now 63, four grandkids later…
I love Australia ,the older I get, the more I appreciate this incredible beautiful country.
Big sadness for me is that at no point in my schooling/ education system was the indigenous peoples culture, knowledge , history and custom ever looked into, explored or explained to me or any other kids.

Only heard about Captain bloody Cook.
Shameful.

@yodzy711 1 month ago (edited)

I remember hearing this story a few times around the country, mainly in the top end but. This production though is 10/10 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 amazing work 💯💯

@glovesarerubber 1 month ago

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this great story good film

@wesben1993 11 months ago

and they were just kids, they've had to live with this their whole lives. I cannot imagine the trauma.
I am so sorry ❤

@davidhyland9512 11 months ago

I think most of the massacres of Australian indigenous peoples have been covered up and will never be acknowledged..

@trevorsneath4665 11 months ago

This is tonights viewing. Cheers Dave

@GaryPalmer-i9t 7 months ago

Poor Fella my Country Respect RIP 🙏 to all the victims 😢😢😢

@AndrewHammond-y1p 1 month ago

Thank you, thouroughly enjoyed it, I knew it was a bad area with the Barrow Creek incidents earlier. Can you tell me what happened to the bodies of the massacre, not being rude, did someone bury them ?. I'm in awe evertime I travel the highway, I will be looking at it differently now

@tonyryan43 11 months ago

The last massacre was in NE Arnhem Land in 1936, only 7 years before I was born. I used to know an old lady who survived it. People who claim to write history need to get it right.

@WayneLarltjanka-y6z 1 month ago (edited)

Mount Allen Station, Laramba, Mount Denison Station, Willowra, Ti Tree Station, Anningie Station and all other stations along the Lander River and Hanson River, my people were removed by force along these areas that belonged to them, whoever was behind it knew our law, that if a person dies at a waterhole or wherever there is a community of people, tribes or clans if someone dies, the mob had to move away from that particular area it's a no-go zone and nobody from each tribe arent allowed to go back there, somebody knew the laws of our people from that area., Murray wasn't provoked or suffered from PTSD as they say he was, as a Galipollie Vet he was forced to kill he knew his authority when with a firearm and was able to shoot when confronted by someone with weapons, my people were removed from these areas because pastoralists wanted more land for cattle, just like in the movie SWEET COUNTRY, When Bryan Browns character said "Green country out there, cattle country....

@YOUTUBEGLOOP-e5h 11 months ago

This looks amazing.

@naomiframpton2512 1 month ago

😢 shameful.

@kaylahenry6319 1 month ago

😢❤

@Pegasus-z6g 10 days ago

“Stop saying ‘European colonists’ like Europe is one thing. Australia was invaded by the Brits.”
Europe has 44 countries. Only one of them invaded Australia:
It was a British imperial project — full stop.

@TubingatYouTube 6 days ago

Coniston Nsw 3 min walk from Wollongong nsw 2WUL position 13 2WUL ...

@jimcockburn4652 11 months ago

Is the Constable George Murray the same Trooper Murray known as Black Murray. It sounds very much like the same man by the bloodthirsty actions.

@philipfrazee5661 11 months ago

They got pushed away from their land, because colonists wanted it for themselves.
The First People were killed, so as to reduce any resistance to that end.
The British wished to raise livestock, grow crops, extract valuable natural resources and develop communities and build transportation networks.
Europe was overrun with people, with little hope of a better life.
Australia was ripe for the picking and the British held a delusional belief, that they had some kind of god given land rights,
In addition, the European philosophy that justified foisting Christianity onto the Indigenous Aboriginal natives.
This was a part of the rationale of a religious duty…and very importantly, codified in the “White Man’s Burden”.

@gruntmax43 11 months ago

Its a little bit like Albo's latest "T" Shirt, "Justice Division"

@cameronfane1 11 months ago

this was shocking

@jethroshanks1420 2 weeks ago

It's a beautiful documentary and is true good to hear my elders talking about it. Think it would good idea to take comment list down with the black and white situation is like in this country on all our land blank and white we call home. if old mate got he's tobacco and with also the white fellow being control freak the story would be different. But no see what man kind is about. We forget the ones in the middle. Naked pushed around by bastards who like to control. How would it be if the women where in charge.