Pinjarra massacre: remembrance

28 October

Content note: This page discusses colonial violence and loss of life without graphic descriptions. Linked historical sources may contain distressing accounts, outdated language, and names or images of deceased people. You can choose how much to read.

28 October marks the anniversary of the Pinjarra massacre of 1834, when a colonial force led by Governor James Stirling attacked Bindjareb Noongar people near the Murray River in what is now Western Australia. The date honours the people killed, their families and descendants, and continuing Bindjareb connection to Country.

Understanding the history

The massacre took place in the early years of the Swan River Colony. It belongs within the history of colonial expansion and the dispossession of Aboriginal people from their lands. Bindjareb accounts are essential to understanding what happened and how the history continues to be remembered.

The event was long described in colonial accounts as a battle. The language used to name an event shapes how it is understood. Referring to the Pinjarra massacre recognises the violence inflicted on Bindjareb people rather than simply repeating the terms used by colonial authorities.

Records, testimony and uncertainty

Surviving accounts do not establish a complete, uncontested number of Bindjareb people killed. This page does not present one estimate as a settled total. An incomplete written record should not be confused with an absence of community knowledge or with uncertainty about the significance of the loss.

When reading a historical source, ask who created it, why it was produced, whose evidence it includes and whose experiences it leaves out. Official documents are important, but they should be read alongside Aboriginal accounts rather than treated as the only authority on events experienced by Aboriginal families.

Community remembrance and continuing connection

Bindjareb Park’s account identifies 28 October 1834 as the date and places remembrance within Bindjareb history. The Western Australian Museum’s Pinjarra Massacre Memorial material also shows how historical research and the arts can support public acknowledgement.

Remembering the massacre should not reduce Bindjareb people to the violence they endured. It should also recognise enduring family relationships, culture, knowledge and connection to Country. Community voices can explain what commemoration means in ways a short institutional summary cannot.

Approaching the anniversary respectfully

This is a date of remembrance rather than celebration. A school or workplace can begin by listening to Bindjareb perspectives and considering why accurate language and acknowledgement matter. Avoid reenactments, graphic imagery and activities that ask participants to imagine themselves as victims or perpetrators.

People should be free to decline a discussion or take a break. Do not expect Aboriginal colleagues or students to disclose family experiences or provide cultural guidance on demand. If inviting a community contributor, agree the purpose, payment, support and permissions for using their contribution.

The historical anniversary is 28 October. Any public ceremony, visit or local gathering needs separate confirmation from its organisers. Follow current guidance about access, photography and the sharing of stories at places of remembrance.

Sources and further reading

Pinjarra Massacre Site. Bindjareb Park. A community source identifying the date and discussing Bindjareb remembrance. Contains descriptions of violence.
Bindjareb Park historical account

Pinjarra Massacre Memorial. Western Australian Museum. Historical research and the role of an exhibition in acknowledging the massacre.
Western Australian Museum resource

An apology for the Pinjarra Massacre of October 28, 1834. Government House Western Australia, 2025. A further institutional account to read alongside Bindjareb perspectives.
Government House account