Dead Frontier Map 2018: A Comprehensive Record of Colonial Frontier Violence in Australia

The concept of a colonial frontier massacre applies to the deliberate killing of six or more relatively undefended people in one operation. This project aims to provide open access knowledge to the public and invite contributions, inform public debate about colonial frontier violence, and record sites of frontier massacres across Australia from 1788 to 1930.

Most international scholars agree that the minimum number of people killed to constitute a massacre is between three and ten people (Dwyer and Ryan 2012: xiv-xv). Unlike genocide, there is no legal definition of massacre or a 'frontier massacre.' Therefore, our research team established a definition based on the work of historian Jacques Semelin.

Semelin's approach emphasizes the importance of examining pre-conditions leading to the event and including oral and written accounts of the event at the time and in the aftermath. He also notes that evidence produced in the long aftermath is often more reliable than in the immediate aftermath. The investigator must consider the 'triptych of aggressor, victim, and witness' as the basic triangle for investigating massacre (Semelin 2005: 376).

Our research team built on Semelin's approach to investigate colonial frontier massacres in Australia. We have compiled a comprehensive record of sites of frontier massacres of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and non-Indigenous people across Australia from 1788 to 1930.

This article provides an introduction to the project and serves as a gateway to our map and database of colonial frontier massacres in Australia. Our goal is to provide well-structured data and available evidence for each frontier massacre site, making it possible for researchers, students, and members of the public to access this important information.

The following are key features of our project:

* Comprehensive: Our record includes sites of frontier massacres across Australia from 1788 to 1930.

* Rigorous methodology: We have used a systematic approach to identify and document each site, drawing on historical records and oral testimonies.

* Well-structured data: Our database provides detailed information about each massacre, including dates, locations, number of victims, and perpetrator(s).

* Map: Our interactive map allows users to explore the locations of frontier massacres across Australia.

By providing open access knowledge and inviting contributions, we aim to inform public debate about colonial frontier violence and promote reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

Dead frontier map 2018