History of Police in Maryborough

The first constable in Maryborough was John Harwood, appointed in 1850, who later left the force to become a mail carrier then re-joined the force to serve for twelve years in the mounted police.

A police stockade and barracks was built on the site of the present Town Hall in 1852, and Senior Constable McAdam was in charge.  It then became the headquarters for the troopers of the mounted police, and the area of responsibility was the whole of the Wide Bay and Burnett district.

In 1863, a Watch-house was built on the same site and by 1864 the town had 1 police Inspector,  1 Sub-Inspector and 9 constables and the police establishment grew to include offices, barracks, lockup, harness room and stables, yards as well as a police Inspector’s residence.  One hundred years later, the Maryborough Police District employed 112 men.

In 1906, the buildings were relocated to the opposite corner of Kent and Lennox Streets with the Watch-house / Lockup building behind facing onto Kent Street.

The Police Station was then moved again to its current location on Lennox Street in 1991.

Constable with the Mounted Police, ca. 1870s

State Library of Queensland, Image no. 542442

References

Buettel, Norman Earl.  (1976) A History of Maryborough,  Maryborough, Wide Bay and Burnett Historical Society,  Maryborough (QLD).