This record contains the names of Aboriginal Australians or Torres Strait Islanders who are now deceased.

This is the first published account on European settlement in Western Australia. The Swan River Colony was established in 1829 and the author of this book, Frederick Chidley Irwin served as a major in the military detachment sent by the British government to guard the settlers as they founded the new colony. In 1832, Irwin was appointed acting governor of the colony while the governor, Sir James Stirling, briefly returned to Britain.

Irwin’s time as governor was controversial due to his actions against the Indigenous Noongar people. Following a series of conflicts that killed both Aboriginal people and settlers, in 1833, Irwin placed a bounty on the heads of two prominent Noongar, Midgegooroo and his son, Yagan. Midgegooroo was soon found, and Irwin had him executed. Yagan was captured and executed two months later. Once his dispatches were received in London, Irwin faced criticism from the British government for his actions, which they believed would do little to help the situation. Irwin, however, was convinced his actions were justified. Midgegooroo and Yagan have since become symbols for the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians by colonial forces.