Sydney Morning Herald apologises for failing ‘dismally’ on coverage of 1838 Myall Creek massacre

SMH editor Bevan Shields says the attitude of the paper to the Myall Creek massacre cannot be excused by the historical context as it was not necessarily shared by other publications at the time. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald has apologised for failing “dismally” in its coverage of the Myall Creek massacre and two subsequent trials in the 19th century.

On 10 June 1838, with the Myall Creek Station manager away, a dozen stockmen led by John Henry Fleming rounded up and brutally killed at least 28 Wirrayaraay women, children and elderly people while their young men were away helping another settler.