 Aboriginal people helped him to clear his land and build his farm buildings.On 26 June 1861, Thomas Petrie appeared at the proceedings of the Select Committee on the Native Police Force to give evidence.Petrie's views on Aboriginal people had hardened by this stage as he was supportive of both the composition and continuation of the force, even though he admitted that many Aboriginal people around his residence had been shot by the detachment under Frederick Wheeler based at Sandgate.