Don stepped in to be our speaker last week at very short notice. Luckily, he has around eight topics he can choose from to present. The Mystery of the Butteraby Graves was a very interesting and intriguing topic.
The action took place in the years of 1864 and 1865 at the so-called grave site which Don has since proved is not the right place.
Don and his wife were touring Australia when they came across Mullewa. They dutifully attended the Tourist Bureau and were advised to take the southern circuit.
On the way they came across three oblong mounds of white stones, eight rocks placed out in a rectangular outline, a large stone monument, a shelter and an explanation board.
Never one to take something at face value, Don knew that something wasn’t quite right about the history and location of the place.
There were three white settlers involved – Joseph Watson, a police officer known as Immortal Joe to the local Aboriginal tribe, James Rudd, a farmer from the Greenough area and Thomas Bott, a pardoned convict who worked for Rudd.
The Aboriginal warriors were from the Wajarri people who lived in the area.
Don discovered that although there are only three graves, seven people in all were killed and buried, but not at Butteraby. The real place where this tragedy occurred is 6.4km north north-east at Victoria Location 2288.
After Thomas Bott was speared by Aboriginal warriors, Joseph Watson and a party of men were despatched to bring them back to face justice.
James Rudd was with them but food was short and he was sent back to the hut at Butteraby to await their return. He challenged some Aboriginal men who were near the door of the hut and holding his rifle. Unfortunately he reached for the rifle which went off, and was then clubbed to death.
Thomas Bott’s attackers were apprehended at Yalgoo and taken by schooner to the Supreme Court in Perth. With the aid of three translators for the different tribesmen, sentence was passed that they be hanged.
They were brought back to the supposed scene and hung in front of their families, to show others what was in store if they attacked white men. The five tribesman were buried together in one grave.
The warrior Mumbleby, who had clubbed Rudd, was also picked up and he was charged with manslaughter and sentenced to jail at Rottnest Island. He only survived there for three months.
Don has unearthed the real story behind these awful events and has notified the State Records Office, Geraldton Library and the Mullewa Tourist Bureau that some of the history, and definitely the location of the Butteraby Graves is incorrect and he has the evidence to prove it.
His research has been accepted and not refuted by any of these nor anyone else. But the memorial and the incorrect explanation still stands.