[1][2] It now sits within the Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve and was listed on the Northern Territory Heritage Register on 7 June 2002.

[1] The Telegraph Station was officially opened by the Post Master General Charles Todd, who was travelling through the area, on 16 August 1872.

It appears that Telegraph Station staff wired Charles Todd days before asking to disperse people but that, not receiving a reply they decided that the request had not been whether they were allowed but for approval to do it 'at public expense'.

[13] The second of these massacres took place after Kaytetye men 'attacked' the Telegraph Station and killed stationmaster James Stapleton and linesman John Franks (both buried in the cemetery) and a number of others were injured; this was likely in response to the earlier massacre and accusations that European men had been abducting Aboriginal women and girls.

[14][15][16][17] In reprisal mounted constable Samuel Gason carried out four punitive expeditions with volunteers from throughout the region into the surrounding country.