The Black War, occurring from 1824 to 1831 in Tasmania, was marked by a series of conflicts and clashes between the British colonists and the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. Several notable incidents stand out:
‘Declaration of Martial Law’ (1828): With escalating tensions, Lt Governor George Arthur declared martial law, giving colonists legal protection for killing Aboriginal people ‘Cape Grim Massacre’ (1828): Some shepherds associated with the Van Diemen’s Land Company killed about 30 Pennemukeer Aboriginal people. It’s one of the deadliest recorded incidents.
‘Oyster Bay Tribe Raids’ (1828-1830): Led by Tongerlongter and Montpelliatta, the Oyster Bay tribe launched raids against settlers.
‘Formation of the Black Line’ (1830): In an effort to capture Aboriginal people, Governor Arthur formed a human chain of soldiers, settlers, and convicts, known as the “Black Line”. However, the action was largely unsuccessful.
‘The Forced Removal’ (1830-1835): After realising warfare was ineffective, Arthur decided to ‘civilise’ and ‘Christianise’ Aboriginal people. During this period, he led to what became known as the “Friendly Mission,” directed by George Augustus Robinson.
These events led to significant loss of life, almost wiping out the Aboriginal population of Tasmania.
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