Between 1864 and 1869 Queensland police occupied buildings in the city centre and then in 1870 they moved into Victoria Barracks. In 1885 they moved next door into the old Brisbane Gaol buildings after the prisoners were moved to Boggo Road Gaol. One wing of the gaol was demolished while the second wing was converted into Police Barracks, later a second storey and verandah were added to this building.
Newly built Police Depot on Petrie Terrace c1938. Image No. PM3119 courtesy the Queensland Police Museum.
In 1938 the Petrie Terrace Depot building, which still exists today, was completed at a cost of £41 000. It was described as the finest building if its kind in Australasia, if not in the whole British Commonwealth. The ground floor accommodated offices for staff as well as dining and lecture rooms. The upper floors contained bedrooms, a lounge, a recreation room with two billiard tables, provided by the Police Welfare Club, drying rooms specifically heated for the convenience of men returning to the barracks in wet weather, lavatories, bathrooms and storerooms. When the Queensland Police Academy was opened in 1972 the training programs held at the Depot came to an end.
Petrie Terrace Depot Barrack building today in all its restored glory. Image No. 5108 courtesy the Queensland Police Museum.
The old Police Depot Barrack Building was saved from demolition and redeveloped into office space, shopping outlets and fine dining in 2008. It’s a great place to appreciate the history of the site while you enjoy a cup of coffee.
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. Contact Email: museum@police.qld.gov.au
The Police Museum is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday 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.
“Petrie Terrace Depot 1938 – 1972” 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. … Continue reading