The Faithful Massacre 

ON 11th April, 1838: A large mob of sheep and cattle were being overlanded for George and William Pitt Faithful,  Thomas Bently, a servant , found a cache of 80 to 100 spears hidden in the reeds. The overlanders then ordered all intruders away from camp, they refused to leave and speared John Bass, then began plundering the drays, several of the other overlanders rushed up and fired their guns all four of them. They were hopelessly outnumbered, there being 150 to 200 natives and were forced to flee, then were speared one by one as they ran. First John Hargrave was overtaken; Edward Laycock; John Freeman and William Macon were heard to say "Let us die together", then William Smith was overtaken and killed. The remainder of the party split and ran in two different directions; William Walker and John Brown who struck off to the right and escaped. Daniel Balmain and Michael Welsh struck off for the left, William Read was speared three times, struck  on the head with a waddy and left for dead, although alive, he died several days later. It would appear that one aboriginie was either killed or wounded. The pursuit of the overlanders was a fierce one, the dead lying over seven miles.

The dead were buried close to the Faithful tree.