Historical frontier wars site set to be destroyed for an open cut coal mine

2018-12-01

A site that saw a series of violent confrontations as part of the Frontier Wars in the early 1800s is set to be destroyed to make way for an open cut coal mine.

The site, Ravensworth Estate, is designated as an Aboriginal Place, a place of special significance with respect to Aboriginal culture under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

Despite that the estate is set to be dismantled and the site completely destroyed to make way for an open cut coal mine.

Greens MP David Shoebridge on behalf of representatives of the traditional owners, the Plain Clans Wonnarua People, has lodged an application currently under consideration with Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price demanding protection for this historical and culturally significant site.

Greens MP and spokesperson for planning and Aboriginal justice David Shoebridge said: “This part of the Hunter was one of the most significant sites of Aboriginal resistance in the early 1800’s.

“We know from the official colonial records that a series of violent confrontations occurred between 1825 and 1826 at Ravensworth. This included multiple murders of Aboriginal people.

“Throughout 1826 a series of violent confrontations occurred at Ravensworth and the adjoining property owned by Lethbridge

“Parties of mounted police together with vigilantes from the “landowners” properties repeatedly killed Aboriginal people who were resisting the loss of their land. This is clearly recorded in the colonial records but is being ignored.

“We have closely reviewed the correspondence from “landowners” to Governor Darling in September 1826 and it is distressing reading.

“Bowman and other “landowners” demanded mounted police and soldiers be sent to their properties to stop Aboriginal resistance. The Governor responded by actively encouraging them to engage in vigilantism with “vigorous measures” to protect their property.

“This is the history of Ravensworth, it’s a dark, uncomfortable history for modern Australia, but it’s a proud history of resistance for Aboriginal people.

“With the state government refusing to act and state heritage laws turned off because the coal mine has been declared ‘state significant’ we are forced to rely on federal protections.

“Mining companies have a long and sordid history of undermining traditional owners and destroying culture and heritage, we should be commemorating this site not erasing it for an open cut coal mine.

“With the state government failing to act we have been forced to make an application under Federal laws to ensure this crucial part of our combined history is preserved, Mr Shoebridge said.