If you had family living in Queensland in 1883, have you thought of looking in Police Gazettes for
information? These are a truly unique, useful and extremely fascinating resource
for local, family and social historians.
Compiled to be distributed amongst the Police Force only, these Gazettes
contain details and information that can not be found anywhere else. Apart from
any changes within the police force which are all listed (promotions, demotions,
dismissals, deaths etc), information is also given on housebreak-ins, robberies,
arson, murders, lost horses and cattle, deserters, escaped prisoners, reports on
those released, even deaths reported to the police (together with their place of
death and cause of death given). Notices from interstate police gazettes are
sometimes included.
A fascinating read for learning about the social history of the time, even if
you don't have family there - this CD contains all issues that were produced for
the years 1883.
Unique features of this particular year's worth of issues is that they
contain the following:
- lists of Justices of the Peace in New South Wales and Queensland
- lists of Medical Practitioners
- lists of Chemists and Druggists
- lists of Ministers of Religion (authorised to celebrate marriages in the colony)
- also listings of those who have licences for auctionering,
distilling, billiards, retail spirit dealing, and the transfer of
publican licence
Example entry taken from 6 January 1883 issue:
Vide Police Gazette, 1882, pg 114.
Giuesppe Dotti, charged with deserting his illegitimate child of Anne Shannon,
has been charged by the Rockhampton Detective Police and discharged by the
Bench. 5th January, 1883
Example entry taken from 12 May 1883 issue:
Highway Robbery and Stealing from the Person
Stolen from off the finger of Charles Card, fireman on s.s. "Quiraing", whilst
asleep on the verandah of the Harbour View Hotel, Cooktown, on the night of the
20th ultimo, a gold ring, Oddfellows' emblem (heart-in-hand) on top, "C.E. Card"
scratched inside, small part of hoop cracked; value 35s. Identifiable. 2nd May,
1883.
High quality scanned images of the whole of the years worth of issues. This CD has
been bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed,
enlarged and printed out if required.
