Police Gazettes are a unique, useful and extremely fascinating resource for
local, family and social historians as well as researchers in other fields
throughout Australia. Compiled to be distributed amongst the police force only,
these Gazettes therefore contain details and information that can not be found
anywhere else.
A goldmine of information for any historian, the Police Gazettes contain a
wide range of information such as lists of warrants issued, details of those
arrested and discharged (which include physical descriptions of the offender),
escaped prisoners (also with descriptions), details of those deserting their
wives and families, as well as deserters from service, and missing friends. You
will also find details on murders, robberies, arson, rape, sacrilege and more.
Notices from Police Gazettes from other states are also often included.
Example entry taken from the 8 November 1922 issue:
Notice - £200 Reward
Whereas about 9.6 p.m. on the 17th September, 1922, a "Hudson" motor car, No.
42889, the property of Mr. Lance Giddings, which was stolen from outside his
residence at Alexander Flats, Bayswater-road, Darlinghurst about 7 p.m. that
night, collided with a number of people at a tram stop at Crystal-street and
Parramatta-road, Petersham, resulting in the death of Robert Thom, Jeannie
Thom, and Joseph Wener, and seriously injuring several others. Notice is
hereby given that a reward of Two Hundred Pounds £200) will be paid by
Government for such information as shall lead to the apprehension and
conviction of the guilty person or persons. In addition to the above reward
His Excellency the Governor will be advised to extend a free pardon to any
accomplice, not being the person who actually inflicted the said injuries, and
thereby caused death, who shall first give such required information. This
reward to remain in force for three months only.
Charles W. Oakes.
Example entry taken from the 20 December 1922 issue:
First Offenders Discharged Under Crimes Act of 1900 [please note,
only a few entries have been transcribed here]
The following offenders have been released under the provision of the above
Act, and unless otherwise specified, are to be of good behaviour for twelve
months:
Norman Dunn (16), Sydney Quarter Sessions, 17th November, 1922; break, enter,
and steal; twelve months' hard labour (vide Police Gazette, 1922, page 653)
Herbert Austin Brown (24), Parramatta Quarter Sessions, 5th December, 1922;
larceny; twelve months' hard larbou (vide Police Gazette, 1922, page 613)
Samuel Milton Lomax (34) Parramatta Quarter Sessions, 5th December, 1922;
cattle stealing; four months' hard labour (vide Police Gazette, 1922, page
640)
George John Thomas Daley Jackson (32), Parramatta Quarter Sessions, 5th
December, 1922; larceny; fifteen months' hard labour. To be of good behaviour
for fifteen months (vide Police Gazette, 1922, page 613)
James Gladstone Butcher (25) Central Police COurt, 12th December, 1922;
embezzle ship's stores; twelve weeks' hard labour.
The Police Gazettes make fascinating reading and learning about the social
history of the time, even if you don't have family there.
High quality scanned images of the whole years worth of issues. This CD has
been bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed,
enlarged and printed out if required.
Click here to download a file of sample pages from this book
Right click on the link and select "save as" - to a location on your hard drive. The sampler can be opened, navigated and searched as with the full CD file/s.
Sample files usually contain the title page, contents, some introductory pages and sample pages from the body of the book. Often the complete index from the original book is included.
