Almost 200 years ago, a state governor led a massacre of at least 15 Aboriginal people.

On Tuesday, Western Australia's current governor, Chris Dawson, went to the massacre site, south of Perth, with a different intent.

Standing on Country, addressing an emotional memorial service to mark the 191st anniversary of the Pinjarra massacre, Mr Dawson apologised to the Binjareb Noongar people for governor James Stirling's "dreadful wrongs".

"I am deeply sorry for the actions of my predecessor and for the pain and suffering he caused," Mr Dawson told the sombre crowd.

"I say sorry to the Bindjareb people, who still feel the trauma of the punishment inflicted on their ancestors that day, when so many innocent lives were taken."

In 1834, James Stirling led 25 armed men in the Pinjarra massacre

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