Prior to inauguration of the Queensland Police Force in 1864, Sub-Inspector William Harris with Constables Henry Harris, John Brophy and John Broderick policed Leyburn. The policemen served from humble quarters; in 1862 the Leyburn lockup had cost £550 to build, with a further £227 spend approved for police buildings in 1885.
The Queensland Police Gazette of November 2 1864 announced Sub-Inspector Harris, Officer in Charge Leyburn Police, as rewarded with £30 for the apprehension of Alexander Ritchie for the murder of Mr Charles Alfred Owen. Owen was a Magistrate, overseer and part owner of Yandilla Station on the Darling Downs. Ritchie was later hanged for the crime. Although homicide in the district was uncommon, other offences ranged from horse and cattle stealing, assault, absconding from service, breach of the peace, larceny and language offences.
Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
Each year inspections were made of the police station, for the information of the Police Commissioner. The condition of equipment, buildings, fencing, grounds, staff and uniforms were noted. In November 1909 Inspector James F. Geraghty attended the Leyburn Police Station from Toowoomba to report on conditions there. His general remarks noted “I found the station tidy and clean but the yards were in a filthy condition like an old cattle camp. The Constable [Alfred Zendler] alleges that owing to the old fence which encloses the Reserve (which no doubt is in bad repair) cattle come in and camp on the reserve. This Constable is milking two cows and I am of the opinion that these cows cause the nuisance. I told the Constable that if I again found the place in such condition I would recommend his transfer.” Constable Zendler was not transferred, and retired in 1910.
Image courtesy of the State Library Queensland.
Brisbane’s Courier Mail reported, on January 23 1936, a fire which raised the police station and destroyed contents owned by the Constable in residence, R.G. Turner. The five room building could not be saved, however the main Leyburn Police office remained unaffected. A new police station was erected later that year costing £1026 and Constable Turner’s family reported moving into the residence on September 7, 1936.
In recent years an original boundary marking, in the form of a large tree, blazed with an arrow and lettering was discovered when a land owner noticed these distinct features. The symbol denoting a Government Police Reserve is etched into the cambium layer of an old Ironbark. The significance of the tree as a boundary marker for the original Leyburn Police Reserve has not gone unnoticed. As a way to protect its history, the tree has been relocated to the Leyburn Police Station.
This weekend (14th to 16th August 2015) marks the 20th anniversary of the Historic Leyburn Motor Sprints. The township normally populated by less than 500 is expected to increase to 20,000 people during the weekend event. Police from neighbouring districts will be in attendance to assist Leyburn’s police contingent. There may just be a shiny new police car on display, and images of some older police vehicles.
__________________
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. 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 by email: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT – Leyburn Police Station” 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