By regularly reviewing the past, we are planning the future. A look at the Cloncurry Police District Annual Reports 1906 to 1908 revealed a Circular Memorandum No. 427 of 11 January 1907 issued by the Commissioner of Police (CoP). In it, the CoP required a report to be prepared on the working of the Cloncurry District during 1906. Information was gathered from the individual police stations within the Cloncurry Police District to provide a picture of events and societal changes that were either affecting individual stations, or the district as a whole, such as mining, the arrival of the railway, and population growth or decline. Selected items considered of importance from all the police districts were chosen to be included in the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Police, which was then presented to the Queensland Parliament.
The Annual District Report covered a variety of topics:
- Crime
- The State of Barracks
- Arms and Appointments
- Horses
- Bicycles
- Stores
- Duty of Men
- Missing Friends
- Missing Property
- Working of the Licensing Act and Sunday Trading
- Working of Infant Life Protection Act
- General Remarks
The following are some of the highlights that Sub-Inspector Third Class McGrath made in his report. There had been a slight increase in horse and cattle stealing, but when the cases were investigated it was found the stock had mostly strayed than been stolen, he reported that “crime during the coming year may be expected to increase as the population is increasing and with the approach of the Railway a number of undesirable characters are sure to come here.”
Cloncurry district had a total of 66 horses in the district, of which 50 were from 15 to 20 years old and only suitable for pack or escort duty. There were also two bicycles in the district, one at Cloncurry and the other at Hampden, and both out of order.
Sub-Inspector McGrath recommended that the Hampden bicycle be returned to Brisbane as it was of no use there, but he’d make an application for material to repair Cloncurry’s bicycle.
The last annual supply of stores had arrived in Cloncurry in bulk instead of going directly to each station. Sub-Inspector McGrath proposed arranging for camels to take them to the police stations at Betoota, Birdsville, Bedourie and Boulia.
“The duty performed is Town, Bush Patrol, Escort and Inquiry. There is a large amount of Bush Patrol done as the district extends from Betoota on the south to Kamilaroi on the north, 700 miles, and Cammoweal on west to Julia Creek on east, 350 miles. Patrols must be made over all this great area, and as will readily be understood good horses in numbers are a necessity. Around Cloncurry where the population is increasing there are more frequent calls on Police from outside mining places, and as a result it is not an unusual thing for four or five constables to be about at the one time.”
Sub-Inspector McGrath considered that another constable would be required at Gilliat, about October 1907 as the railway line would have reached there and one constable would be insufficient to handle the rowdy characters while the railway line was being built. He suggested it was also possible that Cloncurry would need about three more constables if the population continued to increase. He noted that the present strength of Cloncurry was one Sub-Inspector, one Acting Sergeant, six Constables and two Trackers.
The annual report included a request that new police barracks and cells be built at Boulia as they had been eaten away by white ants.
The cost of the construction could be less than £700. Another alternative was to convert two of the Courthouse offices into barracks while building a kitchen and cell at the back which would be about £50.
Cloncurry Police Station, 1907. PM0677
Inspector McGrath’s report of 1908 highlighted the increase in “stealing from the person and stock”, increased drunkenness and offences under the Vagrant Act, with the result that over 400 prisoners had passed through the cells, all largely because of an influx of population due to the extension of the railway line.
Cloncurry Police Station Plan with proposed additions 18.03.1908
There was comment on Cloncurry’s Arms and Appointments: “The arms are good of their class and in serviceable condition. The new patent handcuffs being suitable and safe for Escort Duties, and a marked improvement on the old ones. The Carbine rifle and ammunition being very heavy, and only one shot, are not as suitable for Bush duties as the Winchester. The Webley revolver is also much out of date when compared with the Mauser.”
Inspector McGrath also noted the satisfactory outcome for supplies to the stations in the Cloncurry district: “During 1907 each station supplies were forwarded from Government stores direct to each station, this has had the effect of supplies being promptly delivered by the nearest and cheapest route from Brisbane thus effecting a saving in time and money paid for carriage. The supplies received were generally sufficient.”
The combined effect of the railway reaching Cloncurry, with further extension to Mount Elliot and Hampden, and development of the mines with the resultant increase in population gave cause for Inspector McGrath to ask for more constables to be stationed in the Cloncurry district.
Accommodation was also inadequate for the men stationed at Cloncurry and a request for additions to the current building was offered. There were only two small cells measuring 12 x 7 feet each and at times 20 prisoners had been squeezed into them:
“The result is that half of them have to be chained up outside. The result is that there is little, or no rest obtained by constables at barracks owing to the noise made by drunken prisoners. I think were a cell about 20 x 20 feet put up, detached from the main building with small cooking galley detached so that prisoners could cook their food in would be a convenience.”
PM3191 Unidentified police officers and citizens outside the Boulia Police Station, c1908
JOL Image No: 11593
To be continued: A look at the Cloncurry Police District Annual Reports 1909-1959