Policing History

10/02/2023

04/02/2023

Our archive digitisation service provides well-lit and perfectly in-focus digital copies of any publicly available file from the National archives, British library, Bodleian, London, and Oxford libraries.

10/09/2021

On this day 1906 the first Australian licence plates and drivers’ licence were issued. Prior to this The Brisbane Traffic Act, passed in 1895, required drivers and conductors of vehicles used for the conveyance of passengers or goods for hire to obtain licences from the Police Commissioner.

By 1916 thousands an average of 1000 vehicles per hour was recorded at Brisbane intersections, and between 1915 and 1916 there were 676 accidents.

Find out more in “Queensland’s First Driver’s Licenses” by Police Museum Volunteer and Researcher Dr Anastasia Dukova
https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2014/03/11/from-the-vault-queenslands-first-drivers-licenses/

Queensland Police Service

📷 Customs House, Brisbane, 1898; ITM1108375.

24/08/2021

A few thoughts on my personal favourites for getting acquainted with the history of policing, crime and society in Ireland.

I have been asked to share some thoughts on ‘The Best Books On’ and I chose to recommend a few titles on history of policing, crime and society in Ireland. I recommended a few of my personal favourites which are shown below and are discussed in detail on Shepherd.com - Best Books on the History ...

22/08/2021

A recording of the launch of To Preserve and Protect: Policing Colonial Brisbane hosted by Avid Reader Bookshop

On 18 June 2021, nearly a year to the day after To Preserve and Protect: Policing Colonial Brisbane was released in soft cover and electronically, I had the fortune to introduce the book personally. It was wonderful to chat all things crime and policing with an historical criminology expert, Dr L

01/08/2021

A great write up by Dot Whittington about To Preserve and Protect: Policing Colonial Brisbane in Courier Mail

University of Queensland Press

28/07/2021

I’m in great company here!
I’ve been receiving some very positive reviews from readers lately, which I’m thrilled about!! I’m very excited to see To Preserve and Protect: Policing Colonial Brisbane (University of Queensland Press) did well at Avid Reader in June! Repost from Avid Reader Bookshop: Our top 10 bestsellers from last week - a strong mix of fiction and non-fiction 📚⁣
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22/06/2021

Thank you to Avid Reader Bookshop for hosting a wonderfully organised and engaging book launch for To Preserve and Protect: Policing Colonial Brisbane! It’s been out for a year (University of Queensland Press) but due to the pandemic restrictions we couldn’t have a public event for the book until now. Thank you to the IRL and zoom audience for their time, attention and insightful questions!

Big thank you to Dr Lisa Durnian for keeping us on track, it was such an engaging discussion!

We even had the universe oblige and as we were talking about the year of disaster, the microphones went rogue and the sign toppled over!

The event was recorded, YouTube link coming soon!

15/06/2021

The Avid Reader Bookshop event is this Friday! Please consider joining in person or online!

In her new book, police historian Dr Anastasia Dukova explores the development of Brisbane law enforcement.Each chapter of Dukova's book focuses on a particular individual, and she explores the colonial experience through their lives.The book is for anyone interested in Brisbane policing, Brisbane h...

24/03/2021

With all the rain we had, it reminded me of floods 157 years ago, nearly to the day. On 20 March 1864, ‘Albert street, from Alice street to Charlotte street, were totally impassable, and many residents in Frog’s Hollow were compelled to leave their houses and furniture to the devastating elements.’ (Brisbane Courier, 21 Mar 1864)

Police Detective Samuel Joseph Lloyd joined the new colonial police only a few months earlier. His office of 3 men would have been responsible to visiting pawnbrokers to monitor for any stolen goods.

Lloyd previously was a detective with Victoria Police, born in County Cork in 1829.

University of Queensland Press image: Charlotte Street, 1864 State Library of Queensland JOL22130