CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses issues that may be distressing to some readers
For more than a century, the NSW Hunter Valley has been a coal mining hub.
The landscape is pockmarked with open cut mines, and the proposed expansion of one of these mines has divided the community.
According to Wonnarua man Scott Franks, who is the CEO of Aboriginal cultural heritage consultancy firm Tocomwall, the expansion would irreparably damage a massacre site.
At the centre of this story of massacre is Ravensworth Homestead, which mining giant Glencore wants to move to make way for an expansion of their Glendell coal mine.
The homestead currently sits just outside of Singleton where according to Mr Franks’ research, the horrifying deaths of Aboriginal people occurred.
“We had women disembowelled here, we had people hung, we had people drawn and quartered,” he told NITV’s The Point.
“We have records of some of these second and third low-lying tributaries here where our people had their hands tied behind their back and they were flogged with swords like cavalry.
“... It was horrific, there were attacks on our people, our women and children, our people retaliated, these are battlefields recorded, some of the first battlefields recorded.”
But not all Wonnarua people agree that massacre occurred on the Ravensworth property.
Scott Franks says the homestead is a massacre site. Source: NITV The Point
Laurie Perry is the CEO of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation, he said his Elders have no knowledge of any massacre occurring at the Ravensworth Homestead.
“Where were these stories before and how come we haven’t heard about them and how come they haven’t been passed down,” he said.
“The stories that I’ve read, I’m shocked, you’d think we would know something about it if that happened at that particular point in time.”
'No recollection of massacre'
James Wilson Miller is a Gringai man of the Wonarua Nation, and a historian. He said there’s no doubt massacres occurred throughout the Hunter Valley during colonisation, but he’s not convinced they occurred on the Ravensworth property.
“There’s been stories of certain massacres here and there and tit for tat skirmishes which went on from the 1820s right up until the 1830s,” he said.
“...From my research and from what I’ve written about my area, the Wonnarua area, I haven’t yet come across any writings that there was a massacre on that particular site.”
Glencore is also adamant that no massacre occurred on the Ravensworth Homestead site.
James Wilson Miller at one of the sites protected by WNAC - Biaime Cave. Source: NITV The Point
“Claims that the Project area, including Ravensworth Estate and the Homestead, are the site of a massacre of Aboriginal people is not supported by the facts or the broader Aboriginal community," a spokesperson told The Point.
They said the homestead will need to be moved for the mine’s expansion.
“We assessed alternate mine plan options that left the homestead in place but these were uneconomic,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Perry said the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation works with all mining companies in the area as a Registered Aboriginal Party.
The corporation has also worked with landholders to protect sites they see as significant.
“The thing about protecting Aboriginal sites is that knowledge has to be passed down and none of our Elders, and we have Elders that are still alive today, have a recollection of a massacre at the homestead,” he said.
As for Ravensworth, Mr Perry said he doesn't see any problem with moving the homestead.
Laurie Perry says he has no issue with Glencore moving the homestead. Source: NITV The Point
“If that’s what they want to do then that’s what they want to do,” he said.
“The Wonnarua Nation supports the removal of that building and then it’s preserved as well, we have no issue of that happening.”
But Scott Franks said moving the homestead for more coal is unacceptable.
“These mining companies come here and say to Aboriginal people - all people across this country- we want to work with you and they don’t they just want to run rough shot over us and determine what happens with our sacred sites,” he said.
“...We can never ever take the blood of our people out of the ground but we can certainly have a place to pay homage to our fallen that are still here today.”
For more on this story tune in to NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point, Tuesday 7.30pm or later on SBS and SBS On Demand.
