The Pinjarra massacre occurred when British forces, led by Captain James Stirling, clashed with the Noongar people in the Swan River Colony. The attack was prompted by ongoing tensions between settlers and the indigenous population over land use and resource access. As more settlers arrived in the region, conflicts over hunting grounds and local resources intensified, leading to resentment among the Noongar. On this occasion, an armed contingent of colonists set out to engage the Noongar people, mistakenly believing they were a threat to settlement security. The colonists' assault was marked by disproportionate violence, resulting in the deaths of around 30 Noongar individuals, including women and children, with many more injured. The massacre exemplified the broader patterns of colonial violence against Indigenous peoples during the era of Australian colonization.

In the aftermath, the massacre intensified British efforts to occupy and control the Swan River region, pushing the Noongar further from their traditional lands. Reports of the event circulated widely, influencing public perceptions of Indigenous resistance and justifying further military actions against Aboriginal communities. The consequences of the massacre reverberated throughout the region, leading to continued hostility and further massacres in subsequent years. Colonial authorities framed such actions as necessary for the expansion of settlements and the control of perceived threats. The Pinjarra massacre remains a poignant reminder of the violent struggles faced by Indigenous Australians in the face of colonial expansion and the subsequent ramifications for their social and cultural structures.