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What information can be found in a Queensland Police Gazette?
The information contained in the Police Gazettes does vary a little from year to year, but overall you will find details of any changes within the police force which are all listed (promotions, demotions, discharges, resignations, deaths), information is also given on housebreak-ins, robberies, arson, murders, deserted seamen, deserters from families, warrants issued, prisoners discharged, missing friends, lost and found items and more.

How can this help me?
Anyone researching their family will have a 'lost' family member or two! You may well find them listed here, being on either side of the law. Or maybe they were a Policeman who transferred to another department or division, or someone that was a victim of a crime. You can find the physical details on persons listed here, missing, wanted or released, which helps to paint a picture of them (name, aliases used, age, height, colour hair, colour eyes, distinguishing features, even colour clothing worn). Occasionally there is even a photograph.

Example entries taken from the 19 May 1906 issue
Explosion in Queen's Cross Mill, Charters Towers - £500 Reward
Home Secretary's Office,
Brisbane, 2nd November, 1905.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to direct that a Reward of £500 be paid for such information as may lead to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who were concerned in the explosion that occurred at the Queen's Cross Mill, Charters Towers, on the morning of 1st October, 1905, and that a pardon be granted to any person concerned in the crime, not being the principal offender or one of the principal offenders, who may give such information.
P. Airey.
(Refer to Police Gazette, 1905, page 395.)

Escaped Lunatic
Toowoomba - Escaped from the Asylum for the Insane, Toowoomba, at 4 p.m. on the 27th ultimo, William Woodley, 52 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, stout build, dark complexion, nose slightly inclined to the left, old scar bridge of nose, left leg deformed between knee and ankle, walks with a slight limp; wore dirty white mole trousers, striped drill shirt and flannel, brownish soft felt hat, blucher boots, but no socks; a labourer; was admitted to the asylum on 15th November, 1905, from Charleville. He had no fixed place of abode, and his friends (if any) are unknown. On the 29th ultimo he called at a farm on Cooby Creek, Meringandan, where he was supplied with food by a farmer named Carter, what states that he (Woodley) is now wearing an old grey tweed coat. He was directed from there to the Douglas road, which leads to Esk and Nanango. He is not dangerous.-O.1024. 8th May, 1906.

 This years worth of issues has some features which include both approvals and transfers of:

• auctioneers licences
• billiard licences
• hawkers licences
• packet licences
• poisons certificate licences
• registration of clubs licences
• tobacco licences
• victuallers licences
• wine-sellers licences and
• wholesale spirit dealers licences

Far from being just a unique and extremely fascinating resource for local, family and social historians - they are useful for anyone with an interest in Queenslanders in this era.