Timber, stone, brick, louvered, picketed…so many building variations have been utilised by the Queensland Police. Architectural differences are dependent on many factors including available materials, local needs and the weather. Previously we have blogged about buildings used for Police HQ, here is a link to that article: Police Museum FROM the VAULT – Queensland Police Headquarters. Today we inspect a few other police buildings, an eclectic mix but practical for the job of policing.
Warwick Police Station
Image No. PM1299 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
Built in 1901, the Warwick Police Station is still in use today as the town’s police station. An early Department of Works Annual Report reads “The buildings comprise barracks, offices, and senior-sergeant’s quarters in one building of two stories, lockup-keeper’s quarters one story, and lockup. All the buildings are erected of local freestone, the quoins, chimneys, arches, and main dressings being clean chiselled, and the walling between of rock faced work. The foundations are of concrete, strengthened with railway rails, on account of the uneven settlement usually found in Warwick buildings.”
Blackbutt Police Station, 1912
Image No. PM0096 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
A police station was first established in Blackbutt in June 1910. An inspection of the station in August 1912 described the barrack accommodation as follows “The Police are camped in two tents, which were erected by the Railway Department at a cost of £17 each. They are very comfortable. The land on which these tents was first erected is now portion of a hotel yard, and it is absolutely necessary that they be removed from there at once.”
Tully Police Station, 1980
Image No. PM0687c Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
In July 1973 an extension was completed at the Tully Police Station. Works included enlargement of the general office area and updated toilet facilities for use by both men and women. The request for a female cell block was held over until the 1974/75 financial year, but was not effected until 1976.
Brisbane Water Police Station, with vessel ‘D.G.Gordon II’ berthed alongside c1987
Image No. PM0508 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum
Originally built in 1920 with steel reinforced concrete for the Howard Smith Shipping Company, the building was converted for the use of Water Police in 1963. Nestled on the Howard Smith Wharves at Petrie Bight, alterations for police work incorporated a day room, general duties office, enquiry room, interview room, locker room and public space on the ground level. Upstairs accommodation housed a meal room, offices for the sub-inspector, senior sergeant and clerk, toilets and lobby. Water Police vacated these premises in 1998 in favour of a purpose built facility downstream at Whyte Island.
From a museum perspective, it would be nice to retain all old police stations. Alas, with advancements in technology comes an expectation to deliver current services. Some older buildings do not adjust easily to accommodate today’s technology, requiring extensive and expensive renovation. Recognised as valuable real estate these are sold to fund the newest development for police and / or other government services. We still hold many images of historic police buildings, and the memories of those who served in them, and perhaps those who were brought there unwillingly through criminal activity or unfortunately as victims of crime.
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Police Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT- Various QP Buildings” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode