Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844

The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance ended in 1824 with a series of massacres conducted by settlers in the Bathurst region. From the 1830s, colonists began occupying more and more Aboriginal land across western New South Wales and stocking it with sheep and cattle. By 1838, a dramatic fightback began across the entire frontier of the colony. What has been called the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance, from 1839 to 1841, was, in fact, part of a vast arc of conflict from present-day northern Victoria through to southeast Queensland. At the time, it was seen by many contemporaries as a concerted and coordinated ‘uprising’.

In Uprising, Stephen Gapps reveals the incredible story of this extensive frontier resistance warfare for the first time – a series of wars that were conducted along a huge area of the Murray-Darling river system, across many First Nations’ lands, in a concerted defence of River Country.

‘Stephen Gapps’ work is a significant contribution to truth-telling in Australian history.’ – Anita Heiss

‘A great and much needed account. And yet another loud cry to break the great Australian silence.’ – John Maynard

‘For all Australians to truly understand their history, the Australian Wars need to be a prominent part of our national story. At a time when we need to think deeply about how the past impacts our future, Uprising is essential reading.’ – Rachel Perkins

‘This is a must-read! Uprising is a landmark book at the forefront of the new and exciting scholarship about the Australian Wars. In a brilliant synthesis, Gapps draws together his deep research with extensive consultation with Elders and local knowledge holders and, just as importantly, his detailed understanding of the country in contention.’ – Henry Reynolds