Battle of Pinjarra

The Battle of Pinjarra or Massacre of Pinjarra was an engagement that occurred at Pinjarra, Western Australia between a group of up to 80 Australian Aborigines and a detachment of 25 soldiers, police and settlers led by Governor James Stirling in 1834. After attacks on the Whadjuk Tribe and depredations on settlers by a warband of the Pindjarup Tribe led by Kaylute had reached unacceptable levels, culminating in the murder of an ex-soldier, Stirling led his force after the party. Arriving at their camp, five members of the pursuit party were sent into the camp to arrest the suspects and the warband counter attacked. In the ensuing battle, Stirling reported 15 killed (eleven names were collected later from Aboriginal sources); police superintendent T.T. Ellis died of wounds and a soldier was wounded. Stirling warned the tribe against payback killings and arranged a peace between the warring tribes, but Kaylute continued to break it in raiding the Whadjuk until his demise.