The October Lecture Report

The Cowies Creek Confrontation of 1803

Speaker Report on the presentation by Harry Roberts at the October 1 Meeting

Harry Roberts delivered a compelling presentation on the Cowies Creek Incident of 1803, inviting members to imagine the scene near Corio Bay on October 22, nearly 222 years ago. He guided the audience through one of the earliest recorded encounters between the Wadawurrung people and European explorers, encouraging reflection on the consequences of the following 24 hours.

For context, the eight Europeans involved were part of the ill-fated convict settlement at Sorrento. Lieutenant-Governor David Collins had dispatched the party to explore Port Phillip in search of a more suitable location for the settlement, with particular emphasis on access to a clean and reliable water source.

Today, it is difficult to picture the inlet where Cowies Creek meets the bay as an ideal site. However, Harry used archival photographs to illustrate its appeal at the time. On October 22, Lieutenant James Tuckey and his small party erected their tents and prepared to explore the surrounding area the next day.

While the tents were being set up, three Wadawurrung men approached the camp. Tuckey offered gifts, and the men departed peacefully. Reassured by this initial contact, Tuckey felt confident that the local Wadawurrung were friendly. Early the next morning, the party split, some remained with the tents and supplies, while Tuckey and others ventured out to chart the area.

In Tuckey’s absence, tensions escalated. On his return, he found some of his men missing and another held by two Wadawurrung men. He estimated that around 200 Wadawurrung men had gathered, and the atmosphere had become clearly hostile.

To convey the drama of the encounter, Harry played an audio recording based on Tuckey’s journal transcript. At each stage, he invited the audience to consider the options available to Tuckey and his men.

One of the men being held called for help and urged the others to open fire. While it is easy to view the Europeans as callous intruders, Harry used Tuckey’s journal to present a more nuanced account.

Massively outnumbered, Tuckey remained composed and attempted to defuse the situation. He ordered his men to load buck-shot and fire a warning volley above the Wadawurrung. Though startled, the Wadawurrung’s anger intensified. Tuckey then tried conciliation, returning cloaks and weapons that had been dropped during the retreat.

Despite these efforts, the Wadawurrung reassembled and prepared to confront the eight men. In a final attempt to disperse the group, Tuckey ordered his men to target one of the most vocal figures. The man was killed, and the Wadawurrung retreated into the hills.

Harry concluded by examining the long-term consequences of this fraught encounter. The ill-will generated between the Wadawurrung and the Europeans shaped future relations in the Port Phillip District. The Wadawurrung’s fierce resistance delayed European settlement for nearly three decades and contributed to the abandonment of the Sorrento settlement. The convicts and settlers were ultimately relocated to Van Diemen’s Land.