This article is a list of mass shootings in Australia. Mass shootings are firearm-related violence with at least four casualties. Excluded are shootings associated with acts of war, such as the 1944 Cowra breakout, which saw over 200 soldiers killed. Also excluded are massacres of Aboriginal people using firearms, most of which are not well-documented.
The data include casualties of perpetrators, including self-inflicted gunshot or shooting of a perpetrator by police. That treatment of perpetrator casualties is at variance to some but not all definitions of a mass shooting used in the United States. The inclusion of injured victims in the data is also at variance with some of the US definitions that only include dead victims. However, the above treatment is consistent with that used in other Wikipedia lists of mass shootings by country.
width=12% | Date | width=16% | Location | width=5% | Dead | width=5% | Injured | width=5% | Total | width=60% | Description |
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Wieambilla, Queensland | 6 | 2 | 8 | Wieambilla police shootings A religiously motivated terrorist attack left six people dead including three perpetrators (two men and one woman). Another two people were wounded in the shootings.[1] | |||||||
Bogie, Queensland | 3 | 1 | 4 | A man shot four members of the same family, killing three and seriously wounding one.[2] | |||||||
Darwin, Northern Territory | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2019 Darwin shooting A man shot five people with a pump-action shotgun, killing four and wounding one.[3] | |||||||
Melbourne, Victoria | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2019 Melbourne nightclub shooting A drive-by shooting by two men left two people dead and four others wounded.[4] | |||||||
Osmington, Western Australia | 7[5] | 0 | 7 | Osmington shooting A man shot dead his wife, daughter, and four grandchildren, before committing suicide.[6] | |||||||
Brighton, Victoria | 2[7] | 3 | 5 | 2017 Brighton siege A man shot and killed one person and then held a hostage. In a subsequent shoot-out with a police tactical unit, the perpetrator was killed and three police officers were wounded.[8] | |||||||
Ingleburn, New South Wales | 2[9] | 2 | 4 | A man armed with a rifle shot and killed one person and wounded two others, before taking his own life.[10] | |||||||
Sydney, New South Wales | 3[11] | 4 | 7 | Lindt Cafe siege Three people were killed and four others were wounded during a police raid at a café where a man was holding hostages.[12] | |||||||
Lockhart, New South Wales | 5[13] | 0 | 5 | A man shot and killed his wife and three children with a shotgun, before committing suicide.[14] | |||||||
Smithfield, New South Wales | 0 | 4 | 4 | A shooting incident at a residence left four men wounded.[15] | |||||||
Hectorville, South Australia | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2011 Hectorville siege A shooting incident and the following stand-off with the police left three people killed and three others wounded.[16] | |||||||
Roxburgh Park, Victoria | 4[17] | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his three children and himself.[18] | |||||||
Jandakot, Western Australia | 0 | 4[19] | 4 | A gang-related shootout left four people wounded.[20] | |||||||
Adelaide, South Australia | 0 | 4 | 4 | A shooting incident at Tonic nightclub in Light Square left at least four people wounded.[21] | |||||||
Fairfield, New South Wales | 1 | 3 | 4 | A 29-year-old man was shot dead and three others were wounded in a shooting at Babylon Cafe in the Civic Centre Arcade.[22] | |||||||
Oakhampton Heights, New South Wales | 4[23] | 0 | 4 | A 32-year-old woman armed with a rifle shot and killed her husband, two children and herself.[24] | |||||||
Melbourne, Victoria | 2 | 5 | 7 | Monash University shooting A male international student shot and killed two students and wounded five others including the lecturer.[25] | |||||||
Cabramatta, New South Wales | 0 | 7 | 7 | A man opened fire with a handgun at a wedding party, wounding seven people.[26] | |||||||
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Adelaide, South Australia | 3 | 2 | 5 | A gang-related shooting left three people killed and two others wounded. The case remains unsolved.[27] | |||||||
Bendigo, Victoria | 1[28] | 4 | 5 | A man shot and wounded four police officers during a 19-hour stand-off, before committing suicide.[29] | |||||||
Acacia Hills, Northern Territory | 2[30] | 3 | 5 | A 12-hour shooting spree left two people dead and three others wounded. The gunman was among the killed.[31] | |||||||
Wollongong, New South Wales | 1 | 9 | 10 | A man opened fire in front of a nightclub with a double-barreled sawn-off shotgun, killing one man and wounding nine others.[32] | |||||||
Chippendale, New South Wales | 3 | 1 | 4 | A gang-related shooting at Blackmarket Cafe nightclub left three men killed and another man wounded.[33] | |||||||
Mackay, Queensland | 0 | 5 | 5 | A shootout between rival bikie gangs left five people wounded.[34] | |||||||
Port Arthur, Tasmania | 35 | 24[35] | 59 | 1996 Port Arthur shootings A man shot and killed 35 people and wounded 23 others during a shooting spree.[36] | |||||||
Hillcrest, Queensland | 7[37] | 0 | 7 | A man shot dead his estranged wife, three children, and parents-in-law before committing suicide.[38] | |||||||
Prospect, Tasmania | 0 | 4 | 4 | A 17-year-old shot and wounded four police officers before fleeing. He was later arrested and charged with five counts of attempted murder.[39] | |||||||
Fawkner, Victoria | 3[40] | 3 | 6 | A man opened fire on people and passing vehicles, killing two people and wounding three others. He was shot and killed by police. | |||||||
Khancoban, New South Wales | 1 | 3 | 4 | A woman was killed and three other people wounded at a holiday resort. A suspect surrendered at the scene.[41] | |||||||
Burwood/Redfern, New South Wales | 3 | 1[42] | 4 | A man shot and killed two of his roommates before shooting his landlord to death at another location. The gunman was shot by police during a car chase and arrested.[43] | |||||||
Central Coast, New South Wales | 6 | 1 | 7 | Central Coast massacre A man armed with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun shot and killed six people and wounded another.[44] | |||||||
Strathfield, New South Wales | 8[45] | 6 | 14 | Strathfield massacre A man armed with a semi-automatic rifle shot and killed seven people and wounded six others at a shopping mall, before committing suicide.[46] | |||||||
Camp Hill, Queensland | 4 | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed three family members and himself. | |||||||
3 October 1990 | Deniliquin, New South Wales | 4[47] | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his wife and two children before committing suicide.[48] | ||||||
Surry Hills, New South Wales | 5 | 0 | 5 | A man armed with a 12-gauge shotgun killed five people at a public housing precinct before surrendering to police.[49] | |||||||
7 April 1990 | Burleigh Heads, Queensland | 1 | 9 | 10 | A Satanist shot at passing cars with a rifle, killing one person and wounding eight others before being shot by police and arrested.[50] | ||||||
12 March 1990 | Perth, Western Australia | 4[51] | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his wife and two children before committing suicide.[52] | ||||||
7 November 1989 | Carrathool, New South Wales | 2 | 2 | 4 | A man shot four people at a remote house, killing two.[53] | ||||||
25 September 1988 | Molgawo Arnhem Land near Gunbalanya, Northern Territory | 5 | 0 | 5 | A man shot and killed his wife, his two children and his in-laws.[54] | ||||||
Patterson Lakes, Victoria | 4 | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his wife and two children before killing himself.[55] | |||||||
Winkie, South Australia | 3 | 1 | 4 | A mentally ill fruit-grower shot at relatives and co-workers, killing three people and wounding another before fleeing.[56] [57] | |||||||
Melbourne, Victoria | 9 | 5 | 14 | Queen Street massacre A man armed with a rifle shot and killed eight people and wounded five others. He committed suicide by leaping from an 11th-floor window.[58] | |||||||
10 October 1987 | Canley Vale, New South Wales | 6 | 1 | 7 | Canley Vale shootings: A man shot five people to death before killing himself. The victims were a woman who had rejected the perpetrator and gotten engaged to another man, her mother, father, brother and sister. Another brother was injured.[59] | ||||||
Clifton Hill, Victoria | 7 | 19 | 26 | Hoddle Street massacre A man armed with several firearms shot and killed seven people and wounded nineteen others.[60] | |||||||
23 January 1987 | Pymble, New South Wales | 4 | 0 | 4 | Pymble shooting: A man went to the family home of his former girlfriend, shot her and three others.[61] | ||||||
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | 4[62] | 1 | 5 | A man shot and killed his common-law wife and her parents and wounded her brother. The man returned home and committed suicide.[63] | |||||||
Milperra, New South Wales | 7[64] | 28[65] | 35 | Milperra massacre A gunfight between rival motorcycle gang members left seven people killed and twenty-eight injured.[66] | |||||||
1 June 1984 | Wahroonga, New South Wales | 6 | 0 | 6 | Wahroonga murders: A man shot dead his wife, three children and his mother, before killing himself.[67] | ||||||
Tweed Heads, New South Wales | 7[68] | 0 | 7 | A man armed with a semi-automatic rifle shot and killed a family of six before committing suicide.[69] | |||||||
Campsie, New South Wales | 6[70] | 1 | 7 | A man shot his wife and five children with a pair of rifles before committing suicide. One of the children survived.[71] | |||||||
Melbourne, Victoria | 3 | 2 | 5 | A man opened fire at the Supreme Court of Victoria, killing three people and wounding two others before being arrested.[72] | |||||||
South Yarra, Victoria | 0 | 4 | 4 | A man shot and wounded four people at a theatre. The perpetrator later walked into Camberwell Police Station and gave himself up.[73] | |||||||
Spring Hill, Brisbane | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1976 Spring Hill shooting A man shot two dead and wounded four others on Boundary Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane in a random shooting. He was captured by heavily armed police later at a house where he was holding 5 people hostage.[74] | |||||||
Toowoomba, Queensland | 6[75] | 0 | 6 | A depressed man used a .22-calibre rifle to kill his wife, three sons and a daughter, before committing suicide.[76] | |||||||
Hope Forest, South Australia | 10 | 0 | 10 | Hope Forest shooting A man shot dead his wife, their seven children, his wife's sister-in-law and her son with a .22-calibre rifle.[77] | |||||||
Greenwich, New South Wales | 3[78] | 1 | 4 | A Finnish immigrant killed his wife and daughter and wounded his son, before shooting himself.[79] | |||||||
Collingwood, Victoria | 4 | 0 | 4 | Four people were found shot dead at a home. A 26-year-old man surrendered the following day.[80] | |||||||
Shepparton, Victoria | 0 | 5[81] | 5 | An Italian man armed with a shotgun shot and wounded four people including a police constable. He was arrested after accidentally shooting himself.[82] | |||||||
Brisbane, Queensland | 7[83] | 1 | 8 | A man shot and killed six people and wounded another one before committing suicide. The perpetrator first battered his wife and daughter to death and set them on fire, before taking his gun to a house across the street to kill a friend's wife, two children and family friend.[84] | |||||||
Ivanhoe East, Victoria | 2[85] | 4 | 7 | A man shot and killed one person and wounded four others with a pistol before committing suicide.[86] | |||||||
Beenak, Victoria | 4[87] | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his sister and brother-in-law before walking to a post office, killing another sister, and killing himself.[88] | |||||||
Glen Innes, New South Wales | 6 | 0 | 6 | A man shot and killed his six children before being arrested and sentenced to death.[89] | |||||||
Waterloo, New South Wales | 2 | 4 | 6 | Two people were killed and four others wounded at a house known for underworld crime. Nine people were arrested.[90] | |||||||
Paddington, New South Wales | 2 | 2 | 4 | Two people were killed and two others wounded in a home.[91] | |||||||
Frankston, Victoria | 1[92] | 3 | 4 | A man shot and wounded three people with a pistol at a dance hall before killing himself. One of the wounded girls had previously rejected the perpetrator's romantic gestures, which had led to the perpetrator making threats to shoot her.[93] | |||||||
Perth, Western Australia | 7[94] | 0 | 7 | A man shot and killed his wife and five children before committing suicide.[95] | |||||||
Palmyra, Western Australia | 3[96] | 4 | 7 | A retired farmer shot and wounded four people at a house before killing two other people and himself.[97] | |||||||
Rockdale, New South Wales | 4[98] | 1 | 5 | A man entered a home and started firing, killing two women and wounding two other people before attempting suicide.[99] The perpetrator and a victim later died of their wounds.[100] | |||||||
Bendigo, Victoria | 4[101] | 0 | 4 | A man killed three people (his wife and two others) in a house before setting the home on fire and committing suicide.[102] | |||||||
Kyogle, New South Wales | 0 | 4[103] | 4 | Four people (three men and one woman) were shot and wounded in a targeted attack. Five men were arrested, including one of the injured.[104] | |||||||
Bundaberg, Queensland | 3 | 2 | 5 | A man killed his two children and father-in-law, attempted to kill his wife and wounded one other person with a revolver before walking outside and being arrested.[105] | |||||||
Sydney, New South Wales | 5[106] | 0 | 5 | Five people were killed in a domestic violence incident. A father shot his wife, three children, and himself.[107] | |||||||
near Cessnock, New South Wales | 1[108] | 3 | 4 | A man walked around firing at people, wounding three before committing suicide.[109] | |||||||
Jingellic, New South Wales | 1 | 3 | 4 | A man shot into a crowd at a picnic, killing one person and wounding three others.[110] | |||||||
Melbourne, Victoria | 4 | 1 | 5 | A man opened fire at a botanical garden with a rifle, killing four and wounding one. He later killed himself at another location.[111] | |||||||
Riverton, South Australia | 2 | 3 | 5 | A man armed with a revolver shot and wounded five people at Riverton railway station.[112] Two of the victims, including MP Percy Brookfield, died of their wounds.[113] | |||||||
1–2 June 1919 | Sydney, New South Wales | 2[114] | 16 | 18 | A Chinese man armed with two revolvers and smoke bombs opened fire at random as he roamed the streets, fatally shooting one person and wounding sixteen people. He was killed by an armed citizen.[115] [116] | ||||||
Broken Hill, New South Wales | 6[117] | 7 | 13 | Battle of Broken Hill Two men shot dead four people and wounded seven more before being killed by police and military officers. | |||||||
Ballarat, Victoria | 2[118] | 2 | 4 | A man shot his wife and two children, killing one, before committing suicide.[119] | |||||||
Alexandria, New South Wales | 0 | 4[120] | 4 | A man shot and wounded three people in the street before being injured and arrested.[121] | |||||||
Shark Bay, Western Australia | 3[122] | 2 | 5 | A Filipino seaman shot and killed two people and wounded two others before being shot dead.[123] | |||||||
Mackay, Queensland | 4 | 0 | 4 | Ching family murders A man killed a family of six. Four of the victims were killed with firearms. | |||||||
Richmond, Queensland | 1 | 7[124] | 8 | A man fired from a wagon at people, killing one person and wounding six others. The shooter was wounded and arrested.[125] | |||||||
Hay, New South Wales | 0 | 4 | 4 | A teenager carrying a shotgun shot and wounded four children, allegedly by accident.[126] | |||||||
width=12% | Date | width=16% | Location | width=5% | Dead | width=5% | Injured | width=5% | Total | width=60% | Description |
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Glen Osmond, South Australia | 4[127] | 1 | 5 | A man armed with a revolver shot and killed his wife and two children, wounded another child and then committed suicide.[128] [129] | |||||||
Ashfield, New South Wales | 0 | 4 | 4 | Four children were shot and wounded as they trespassed. A man was remanded into custody.[130] | |||||||
South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia | 4[131] | 0 | 4 | A man shot and killed his three children and himself.[132] | |||||||
Forest Reefs, New South Wales | 3 | 1 | 4 | A man shot and killed his wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law, and wounded another person, during a domestic violence incident.[133] | |||||||
Jindera, New South Wales | 4 | 0 | 4 | A gang of men shot and killed four police special constables.[134] | |||||||