AGY-377 | Deniliquin Police Station

Full description

It appears that there was a police presence in Deniliquin dating from February 1847 when Chief Constable Patrick Treacy was appointed. However, he was stationed at Moama and left the area in August 1847. During the next two years various officers were appointed to Deniliquin but without success. John Sands was appointed Chief Constable in June 1849, but he was stationed at Moulamein. (1) The Returns of the Colony record the appointment of a police constable at Deniliquin on 22 November 1853 (2) but do not refer to the earlier appointments. The first Police Magistrate was John Kelly appointed in 1856, and although it was intended that he be based at Moulamein,he moved to Deniliquin which he believed was the logical headquarters. (3) On 23 February 1856 the station was proclaimed as one in which the Police Act, 1838 (2 Victoria Act No. 2) as amended was applicable. (4) The Act aimed at preventing certain nuisance behaviours and promoting good order and safety by declaring as offences obstructions in public places, and enforcing building standards. The limits of the town were defined on 19 April 1864 (5) In April 1862 the station became the Head station of South Western district. (6) By 1865 the Deniliquin police district, staffed by the Superintendent and ten staff included Deniliquin and Fort Bourke which was over 600 miles away. (7) Endnotes:
(1) John E.P. Bushby "Saltbush Country - The History of the Deniliquin District" Library of Australian History, 1980 p. 288 - 290
(2) CGS 1286 Returns of the Colony, 1855 1855 p. 548-9
(3) Bushby Op. Cit p. 294-5
(4) NSW Government Gazette 24 February 1857 p. 365
(5) NSW Government Gazette 22 April 1864 p. 950
(6) Distribution of the Police Force on 1 December, 1863 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1863-4 Volume 2 p. 901
(7) Loc. Cit p. 296