10/06/2026
Today marks the anniversary of the Myall Creek Massacre, when a gang of stockmen rounded up and murdered 28 unarmed Wirrayaraay women, children and old men on 10 June 1838. For the first and only time, the perpetrators were charged and convicted. Eleven men were arrested. The first trial resulted in an acquittal. However, the Attorney General persisted, retrying seven of the men in a second trial. They were found guilty and publicly hanged in Sydney on December 18, 1838.
This day is a reminder of the importance of teaching the full history of Australia. Truth-telling is not about dwelling on the past. It is about understanding how our nation was shaped and acknowledging the experiences of First Nations peoples whose deep connections to Country stretch back tens of thousands of years.
As unionists, we recognise that justice, dignity and human rights are built on truth. The violence and dispossession experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during colonisation continue to have lasting impacts today.
The Myall Creek Massacre stands as one of the most documented acts of frontier violence in Australian history. It reminds us that reconciliation requires honesty, education and a commitment to listening to First Nations voices.
Today, we remember the Wirrayaraay people who lost their lives and honour all those who continue the work of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.
