Kukenarup Memorial

There really aren‘t many points of interest on the road into Ravensthorpe. It is wheat country after all. Think really big paddocks - shorn almost to the dust after the harvest. So when WikkiCamps offers up a historical monument we might as well stretch our legs. Well, we stretch our legs, sure enough, and received a startling eye opener as well.
Kukenarup Memorial Commemorates a massacre of Nyoongar people in 1880. Some background shortly, but the memorial by the tribal ancestors is moving. There is no animosity evident, simply an expression of the pain that was felt for those who passed and an offer to visitors to reflect. The Nyoongar people’s spirituality, sensitivity and law demanded for generations that the event was not discussed even within the tribe. By Colonial law it also became illegal for them to return. Although the Nyoongar rarely visit here because of the memories on the land, in 2015 in tribute, the memorial was established.
The tribal totems of Eagle and Mallee Fowl greet visitors.
We are glad we visited today, disturbed by our nations history and saddened by its lack of acknowledgement of the treatment of the original inhabitants.

A sketch of Ravensthorpe (Cocanarup) Massacre (full and accurate details may never be known): In 1880, John Dunn of Cocanarup Station, raped a 13 year old Nyoongar girl. In accordance with tribal law of payback, Yangalla of the girls family speared Dunn who later died. Yangalla was tried, but was acquitted because of faulty legal process. Understandably, unrest persisted between blacks and whites for a few years. After the tribe had killed some sheep, the Dunn family obtained a “permit” to kill the 17 people who lived on Cocanarup station. The Dunn’s took the opportunity to stage war. Details differ, but between 30 to 65 Nyoongar perished during a systematic hunt. No legal action was taken against the Dunns.Read more