<P> A Sydney mounted police detachment was dispatched by acting Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass , to track down the Namoi , Weraerai and Kamilaroi people who had killed five stockmen in separate incidents on recently established pastoral runs on the upper Gwydir River area of New South Wales . After two months the mounted police , consisting of two sergeants and twenty troopers led by Major James Nunn , arrested 15 Aborigines along the Namoi River . They released all but two , one of whom was shot whilst attempting to escape . The main body of Kamilaroi eluded the troopers , thus Major Nunn 's party along with two stockmen pursued the Kamilaroi for three weeks from present - day Manilla on the Namoi River north to the upper Gwydir River . On the morning of January 26 in a surprise attack on Nunn 's party Corporal Hannan was wounded in the leg with a spear and subsequently four or five Aborigines were shot dead in retaliation . The Aborigines fled down the river as the troopers regrouped , rearmed and pursued them led by the second in command Lieutenant George Cobban . Cobban 's party found their quarry about a mile down the river now known as Waterloo Creek , where a second engagement took place . The encounter lasted several hours , and no Aborigines were captured . It is this second clash where details of its occurrence contrast substantially . </P>
where did the waterloo creek massacre take place
the upper Gwydir River area of New South Wales