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

‘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

Pages: 336, Paperback

Published: 2025