Blacks About to Attack Leichhardt’s Camp, Near the Gulf of Carpentaria, 1845

Photoengraving of German naturalist Dr Ludwig Leichhardt’s party about to be attacked on 29 June 1845 by local Aboriginal people. Surprise attacks by Aboriginal people such as this one were not common, but did occur. Despite this, in literature of the day, it was far more common to see depictions or accounts of Aboriginal violence towards Europeans than the more common violence by Europeans against Aboriginal people.

This particular attack was, by repute, in retaliation for a previous attack on two local Aboriginal women by two members of Leichhardt's party. It resulted in the death by spearing of the naturalist John Gilbert (though some accounts question the legitimacy of this claim). Gilbert was an early naturalist who 'discovered' many Australian natural species often attributed to his employer, the artist John Gould. Gilbert was killed almost instantly and buried near where his wounds were inflicted.