If you think Australia can deal with it's deep dark past, think again. Whilst in Pinjarra today, I visited the site of the Pinjarra Massacre - a massacre of 60 to 80 indigenous Australians in 1834. There was almost nothing to mark the site.
Pinjarra, 90km south of Perth
There was a memorial of sorts, a large boulder placed in a paved circle surrounded by four mosiacs. No sign on the street, no sign on the park, no car park, no sign near the memorial, indeed, not even a plaque on the memorial. Indeed, nothing at all to indicate what the memorial is there for. Simply four signs - found in most parks country wide - forbidding camping in the reserve.
The massacre is a tragedy of our past, these people were attacked and killed by government soldiers. All those who escaped were chased down and killed, all the wounded were killed.
Every town has memorials to local Australians who lost their lives in the world wars. Even across the road from the site is the town cemetery, clearly signposted and with a nice grand entrance.
The absence of signs, plaques and a list of known names is very telling, don't you think?
Pinjarra Massacre Site
West Australia Vista
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