Police Station, Warwick, c 1905

News of the day

The Brisbane Courier

Tuesday 4 February 1890

The Robbery by Youth at Warwick

[...] no little excitement was caused in town on Wednesday, 29th January, when it became known that Detective Clarke, in company with Constables J. Clarke and B. Maxwell, and Mr. R. Steel had pounced upon the persons suspected to be connected with the wholesale robbery of goods which has taken place of late at the stores of Messrs, Barnes, Archibald, and Co., particularly on the night of 21st January last. 

The officers [...] in company with Mr. Steel (the employee of Messrs. Barnes, Archibald and Co.) searched the boxes and chest of drawers in which Edward and Charles Boyle, about 17 and 19 years of age respectively, had stowed away about half the spoils they, in company with Maddock, had purloined from the store. In the search they also found five skeleton keys, which the youths had manufactured themselves. The boys were taken into custody. It appears that a system of robbery or shoplifting has been going on in Warwick for the past ten months or so. Innocent employees had been suspected, and a great deal of uneasiness in the minds of the people has existed in consequence. 

Background

The following information is courtesy of our favourite Police Museum: 

There has been a police presence in Warwick since prior to the inauguration of the Queensland Police on January 1, 1864. By December of that year the strength at the station was one Police Magistrate, one Sub-Inspector and five Ordinary Constables. Early accommodations for the police in Warwick were barracks and a lock up which, by 1885, were unhealthy and went under twice in the floods of 1890. Tenders for a new police station were call on November 1, 1900, and the new, two story sandstone and ironed roofed building at 86 Fitzroy Street was completed on July 17, 1901.

The new police station was primarily a barracks. The Senior Sergeant occupied one portion of the building containing 6 rooms with kitchen and bathroom. The First Class Constable occupied the other portion containing four rooms with kitchen and bathroom. The Acting Sergeant stayed in the five roomed watchhouse keepers quarters and the Constable in the five roomed wooden cottage located alongside the police station.

 

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