Flood prone Pinkenba Police Station suffered more disaster; in a memorandum dated March 14, 1908, Constable James Reville wrote;
“I made a mounted patrol (on police horse ‘Bismark’) throughout the division to ascertain if any of the residents were in danger from the flood waters or needed assistance. Although Pinkenba, the Serpentine Country and portion of Eagle Farm presented the appearance of a huge lake, the residents were not in any actual danger as owing to the flat level nature of the country, the water broke over the Pinkenba flats into the Brisbane River and over the Myrtle Town flats into the bay when it had reached an average height of 20 inches in Pinkenba township …”
Next, and on October 20, 1908, a grassfire destroyed the police paddock fencing in McBride’s paddock. Constable Reville phoned the Petrie Terrace Police Depot from the Railway Station to request assistance. A constable and five recruits cycled the distance to assist the Constable and concerned citizens attempting to put the fire out, using McBride’s horse and dray loaded with casks of water.
Pinkenba was at this time a busy place with plenty of police work. However, as bigger and better wharves opened further up river, fewer ships docked there, and with the eventual closure of the meatworks, the area receded into a quiet pleasant village with its local pub. Families grew up and stayed in the area creating a friendly, closely-knit community.
In September 1911 it was reported that all taps at the station were leaking and the bath was in a bad state of repair resulting in damaged floor boards. Acting Sergeant William Lenham advised the Police Commissioner, now William Cahill, that he repaired the taps and fixed a new plunge bath. In May 1914 a new stove was required as well as repairs to the bathroom plumbing. Constable Charles Price advised in July of 1914 that he obtained and fixed new stove linings and repaired the plumbing for a cost of ₤1, 4 shillings and 11 pence. The Department of Public Works finished applying two coats of paint to the exterior and interior of the station, the cell, water closet, stable and feed room, and two galvanised iron tanks in 1929.
Memo by Constable Cooke describing the boundary of the Pinkenba Police Division, 20 June 1934.
In March, 1933 Constable Leroy Cooke made an application for electric light to be installed throughout the station which was approved. Alternations and repairs were made to the station, with the addition of a new 1000 gallon water tank for the kitchen, the raising and levelling of the lock-up tank, a new white enamel bath tub, drain pipe and repairs to the rain guttering above the breakfast room.
On 14 February, 1957 a new chip heater, hand wash basin and bath were installed. In July of that year, Senior Constable Graham Adams sought to enclose the front veranda of the residence to form a sleep out as well as to extend the police office to create a public entrance. These renovations were completed by 28 September, 1958. On 10 September, 1964, Police Commissioner Francis Bischof received a report regarding the rationalisation of suburban police resources. The report recommended the closure of Pinkenba Station and the transfer of Senior Constable Adams to Hamilton Police Station. Pinkenba Police Station was closed on 5 October, 1964. Responsibility for the division was transferred to Hamilton Police Station, however the Pinkenba building was retained as a police residence.
Town of Pinkenba.
Map drawn and published at the Survey Office, Department of Public Lands Brisbane, August 1962.
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This article was written by Assistant Curator Virginia Gordon (c2000) and Constable W.H.Larkman (c1975) from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum. 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- Policing Pinkenba (Part 2)” 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