Matthew Moorhouse
Matthew Moorhouse | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1813 |
| Died | 1876-03-29 |
| Occupation(s) | Pioneer, pastoralist, politician, Protector of Aborigines |
| Known for | Protector of Aborigines in South Australia; commander in Rufus River massacre; member of South Australian House of Assembly |
Matthew Moorhouse (1813 – 29 March 1876) was a British pioneer, pastoralist, politician, and served as Protector of Aborigines in South Australia. He commanded the armed group involved in the Rufus River massacre, which led to the deaths of between 30 and 40 Maraura individuals, potentially including women and children.
Early life and arrival in Australia
Moorhouse obtained his M.R.C.S. qualification in 1836 and initially practiced medicine in Hanley, Staffordshire. In June 1839, he was appointed Protector of Aborigines in South Australia. He arrived in the colony aboard the Sir Charles Forbes alongside Reverend Ridgway William Newland.
Piltawodli
During his tenure as Protector, Moorhouse resided at the Piltawodli mission where he worked closely with German missionaries Christian Teichelmann, Clamor Schürmann, and Samuel Klose, who focused on studying the Kaurna language. His letters and reports are important sources of information regarding the Kaurna people. In July 1845, Governor George Grey ordered the closure of Piltawodli and its associated school. It was replaced by a government-operated Native School near what is now Kintore Avenue, which taught exclusively in English. Although Aboriginal students demonstrated capabilities comparable to white students, the institution remained small in scale. Later, Moorhouse converted the school building to accommodate Irish orphan girls who arrived in June 1849. The Native School ceased operations in 1851 and its premises became the Adelaide Destitute Asylum. The remaining Aboriginal children were transferred to the Poonindie Mission on the Eyre Peninsula at Port Lincoln.
Rufus River Massacre
In 1841, tensions escalated between European overlanders and the Maraura people, a Barkindji subgroup. The overlanders had engaged with Barkindji women but failed to deliver promised provisions such as food and clothing. Following reports that approximately 150 Barkindji warriors were assembling to launch an attack near Rufus River close to Wentworth, Moorhouse led an armed party of settlers to intercept them. The settlers initiated gunfire before the Barkindji could come within spear-throwing distance. Official accounts record at least 35 killed and 16 wounded; however, Aboriginal oral histories indicate that casualties may have been higher. In Moorhouse’s formal report to Governor George Grey, he noted nearly 30 indigenous fatalities, around ten injured, and four captured. Due to insufficient Aboriginal medical care for gunshot injuries, most wounded likely succumbed. James Collins Hawker largely corroborated Moorhouse’s version of events.
Parliamentary career
Starting January 1855, Moorhouse expanded his responsibilities by becoming comptroller of the Destitute Poor Establishment and superintendent of the Female Immigrant Depot, while continuing as Protector of Aborigines. He retired from these posts on 31 March 1856 and traveled to England to deliver lectures promoting South Australia and encouraging migration. He also visited North America to study educational systems and undertook extensive railroad travel.
Moorhouse represented the City of Adelaide in the South Australian House of Assembly from 13 March 1860 until 9 November 1862. During this period, he served as commissioner of Crown lands and immigration within the first Waterhouse ministry in 1860 and briefly again in October 1861.
Later life
Shifting his focus to pastoralism, Moorhouse established himself as a prosperous pastoralist in the northern region of South Australia, reserving his medical expertise solely for urgent cases. His early investments included land near Riverton and Saddleworth, which he later sold to purchase 27,700 acres in the vicinity of the Hummocks alongside Joseph Fisher and other associates. Moorhouse oversaw the management of this property until its eventual sale to Robert Barr Smith in 1870.
He passed away following a brief illness at his estate Bartagunyah, located near Melrose, South Australia, on 29 March 1876. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter.
See also
- Kaurna
- List of massacres of Indigenous Australians
- Henry Inman (police commander)
- James Rigby Beevor
- Maria (brigantine)
- James Brown (Australian pastoralist)
Further reading
- SA Protector of Aborigines: Out Letter Book I (May 21, 1840 to Jan 6, 1857) —First Sources
- Some Known Conflicts in New South Wales —Australian Frontier Conflicts
- Sign Sites - Palmer Gardens / Pangki Pangki —City of Adelaide
- Colonial Frontier Massacres in Central and Eastern Australia 1788-1930 —University of Newcastle (Australia)
- Newspaper articles mentioning "Matthew Moorhouse" —Trove