The Caledon Bay crisis was the first turning point toward reconciliation between the settlers and Aborigonals. If it hadnt have been for Donald Thomson the Aboriginals may have been wiped out many years ago.
The Caledon Bay Crisis "was a decisive moment in the history of Aboriginal-European relations. The High Court condemned frontier justice, the punitive expedition did not ride into Yolngu country and there had been an unprecedented outburst of public sentiment demanding a new deal for Indigenous Australians."