In 1932, the Australian army engaged in a bizarre and ultimately unsuccessful conflict against a foe unlike any other: thousands of emus. This “Emu War,” as it became known, highlights a little-known chapter in Australian history, born from post-WWI economic hardship and escalating tensions between struggling farmers and the native bird population.
The Seeds of Conflict: Veterans, Wheat, and Emus
Following World War I, Australia settled returning veterans on marginal farmland in Western Australia. These farmers, many with little agricultural experience, grew wheat – a crop that briefly thrived but soon faced oversupply and collapsing prices during the Great Depression. When the government rescinded promised subsidies, farmers faced ruin, and an unexpected problem emerged: emus.
Thousands of emus migrated annually, following food and water sources. The expansion of farmland intersected with their natural routes, leading the birds to raid crops. Farmers demanded action, and the Australian government responded by deploying a small military unit: three soldiers with two Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
The War Begins (and Fails)
The operation was a disaster. Emus, standing over six feet tall and weighing over 100 pounds, proved surprisingly resilient. They scattered at gunfire, trampling crops further, and one machine gun jammed during the first engagement. Attempts to mount a gun on a vehicle were hampered by poor roads. Major Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith, the commanding officer, even compared the emus to “invulnerable tanks,” similar to Zulu warriors who withstood dum-dum bullets.
After weeks of fighting, the soldiers claimed to have killed 986 birds with 9,860 rounds (ten bullets per bird), but the numbers were dubious. Historians later argued the gunfire likely worsened crop damage by scattering the emus into wider destruction. The operation was widely ridiculed, with suspicions it was a publicity stunt rather than a genuine attempt at pest control.
A Fence, Not a Victory
The Emu War ended not with a military victory but with the construction of a massive fence. Over decades, Western Australia spent millions of dollars building a barrier stretching over 850 miles to contain the emus. While effective in limiting their movement, the fence has had severe ecological consequences, disrupting habitats and migration patterns of other native species.
The Emu War serves as a stark reminder of Australia’s past attempts to dominate rather than coexist with its wildlife. It remains a controversial legacy: a monument to a conflict lost to birds and a symbol of an era where military intervention was considered a viable solution for agricultural problems.
