On the afternoon of 17 October, two weeks after their arrival, Horatio and eighteen of his party were murdered in the deadliest massacre of settlers by Aborigines in Australian history.
Tom was away from the property at the time, having been sent with two stockmen to collect supplies left en route to Cullin-la-Ringo.
He returned several days later to a scene of devastation.
Despairing and in shock, Wills first wrote to Harrison in Melbourne: "... all our party except I have been slaughtered by the black's ... I am in a great fix no men."
Police, native police and vigilante groups from neighbouring stations swiftly tracked down and killed at least 30 local Aborigines; the total may have been 70.
Wills took refuge near Cullin-la-ringo, and though he desired to avenge his father's death, there is no evidence that he joined the reprisal raids.

Conflicting reports reached the outside world and for a time it was feared that Tom had died.
In the press, Horatio was accused of ignoring warnings and allowing Aborigines to encroach on his property.
The retribution was also called excessive.
Tom vehemently defended his father against any perceived criticism.
Privately, in his letter to Harrison, he admitted, "if we had used common precaution all would have been well".
It was later revealed that, prior to leaving the camp, Tom advised Horatio to be watchful of the local Aborigines, but according to Hammersley, "the old man prided himself on being able to manage the blacks ... and said they would never harm him."
The Queensland press, still in the wake of the massacre, suggested that Wills, "now a Queenslander", be approached to captain the colony's cricket team.

Different reasons were put forward at the time to account for the Wills tragedy.
For many colonists, it confirmed the popular belief that Aborigines were bloodthirsty savages.
Tom never articulated his version of events in writing, but his brother Cedric wrote years later that it was an act of revenge for an attack made on local Aborigines by squatter Jesse Gregson.
He quoted Tom as saying, "If the truth is ever known, you will find that it was through Gregson shooting those blacks; that was the cause of the murder."

In the years following the massacre, Wills experienced flashbacks, nightmares and an irritable heart—symptoms of what is now known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Having been an eager participant in the drinking culture of colonial sport, he increased his alcohol consumption in a likely attempt to blot out memories and alleviate sleep disturbance.
Wills' sister Emily wrote of him two months after the massacre: "He says he never felt so changed in the whole course of his life".
On the afternoon of 17 October, two weeks after their arrival, Horatio and eighteen of his party were murdered in the deadliest massacre of settlers by Aborigines in Australian history. Tom was away from the property at the time, having been sent with two stockmen to collect supplies left en route to Cullin-la-Ringo. He returned several days later to a scene of devastation. Despairing and in shock, Wills first wrote to Harrison in Melbourne: "... all our party except I have been slaughtered by the black's ... I am in a great fix no men." Police, native police and vigilante groups from neighbouring stations swiftly tracked down and killed at least 30 local Aborigines; the total may have been 70. Wills took refuge near Cullin-la-ringo, and though he desired to avenge his father's death, there is no evidence that he joined the reprisal raids.
Conflicting reports reached the outside world and for a time it was feared that Tom had died. In the press, Horatio was accused of ignoring warnings and allowing Aborigines to encroach on his property. The retribution was also called excessive. Tom vehemently defended his father against any perceived criticism. Privately, in his letter to Harrison, he admitted, "if we had used common precaution all would have been well". It was later revealed that, prior to leaving the camp, Tom advised Horatio to be watchful of the local Aborigines, but according to Hammersley, "the old man prided himself on being able to manage the blacks ... and said they would never harm him." The Queensland press, still in the wake of the massacre, suggested that Wills, "now a Queenslander", be approached to captain the colony's cricket team.
Different reasons were put forward at the time to account for the Wills tragedy. For many colonists, it confirmed the popular belief that Aborigines were bloodthirsty savages. Tom never articulated his version of events in writing, but his brother Cedric wrote years later that it was an act of revenge for an attack made on local Aborigines by squatter Jesse Gregson. He quoted Tom as saying, "If the truth is ever known, you will find that it was through Gregson shooting those blacks; that was the cause of the murder."
In the years following the massacre, Wills experienced flashbacks, nightmares and an irritable heart—symptoms of what is now known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Having been an eager participant in the drinking culture of colonial sport, he increased his alcohol consumption in a likely attempt to blot out memories and alleviate sleep disturbance. Wills' sister Emily wrote of him two months after the massacre: "He says he never felt so changed in the whole course of his life".
Tom Wills