Bindjareb Noongar Community Receives Historic Apology 191 Years After Pinjarra Massacre

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Almost two centuries after the Pinjarra massacre, descendants of the Bindjareb Noongar people have received a long-awaited apology from the Governor of Western Australia.

On Bindjareb Noongar Country, Governor Chris Dawson formally apologised for the actions of the colony’s first governor, James Stirling, who led a violent attack against Noongar men, women and children in 1834.

Traditional Owner Karrie-Anne Kearing said the apology was deeply meaningful for the community and the families who have carried the story for generations.

Expressing remorse is seldom a simple task—yet it signifies growth, and with any growth comes a degree of discomfort and pain. Governor Chris Dawson recently addressed this complexity as he approached the sacred Bindjareb Country site.

“It shows how long it’s taken for someone in your position to recognise the truth of what happened here and the impact it’s had on all Aboriginal people.”

She said the moment also honoured those who fought to have the truth acknowledged.

“This is all about the victims, but I also need to acknowledge those who championed this cause – like Pop Oscar Little, my father Theo Kearing, and my Aunty Leslie Morrison.

“Their work was not in vain.”

During the ceremony, the community observed a minute’s silence, marked by the sound of clapping sticks – symbolising the moment the gunfire ceased on October 28, 1834.

“Every year on this date, we gather here to remember the massacre in 1834. And this year, I am very honoured to welcome the Governor,” Ms Kearing said.

During the gathering, Governor Dawson conveyed his intentions clearly, stating he arrived “on foot, unarmed, to walk softly” on the revered land. His presence and words were part of a larger gesture of reconciliation, aimed at fostering healing and rebuilding trust with the Bindjareb Noongar community.

“I come here with my heart and my conscience to say sorry for the dreadful wrongs perpetrated by the first Governor of Western Australia against the Bindjareb Noongar people.”

Accompanied by Bindjareb Noongar Traditional Owner Karrie-Anne Kearing, the Governor’s apology underscored the importance of truth-telling as a foundation for mending historical wounds. This sincere acknowledgment of past wrongs was not just a symbolic act, but a genuine effort to bridge divides and nurture understanding.

To further commemorate the moment, Governor Dawson gifted the community a sapling from an olive tree originally planted at Government House by Stirling in 1835. The young tree symbolized hope and the possibility of new beginnings, serving as a living testament to the enduring commitment to reconciliation between the communities.

To mark the occasion, the Governor presented the community with a sapling from an olive tree planted at Government House in 1835 by Stirling.

In return, Traditional Owners gifted a Jarrah tree to be planted at Government House – a gesture symbolising reconciliation and renewal.

“This is not the end – it’s the start of a new chapter of working together to create a memorial for our people,” Ms Kearing said.