1788
The First Fleet arrives on 26 January, and the Marine
Guard is immediately responsible for protecting the
Government Stores and patrolling the settlement at night.
|
1789
Governor Phillip creates a Night Watch which commences duty on
8 August. Four three-man convict patrols guard Sydney Town. A
Row Boat Guard is also quickly established on Sydney Harbour.
|
1790
The Sydney Foot Police Force is established.
|
1795
The Night Watch now patrols to the Hawkesbury and Parramatta,
and patrol during daylight hours as well as by night.
|
1796
For the purpose of policing, Captain John Hunter divides
Sydney into portions, and appoints three Watchmen to control
these areas. Residents within each division are required to
elect annually three Constables. There are now Watch patrols
at Toongabbie.
|
1800
There are by now 36 Constables in the Sydney Foot Police.
|
1803
The first death of an Australian Police Officer occurs when
Constable Joseph Luker is murdered.
|
1810
Governor Macquarie establishes a Police Fund and divides
Sydney into 5 Police Districts, each with a watch-house.
|
1811
Orders are issued to Police to regulate Sydney's traffic.
|
1817
There are now over 60 Constables in the Sydney Foot Police.
|
1819
There are now 6 Police Watch-houses in Sydney Town.
|
1821
The Governor's Mounted Escort is established.
|
1824
Two former London Policemen come to Australia as Assistant
Superintendents following recommendations of the Bigge Report.
|
1825
The Military Mounted Police Force is established, comprising 2
officers and 13 troopers. Captain Francis Rossi is appointed
Police Superintendent. He reorganises the Sydney Police Force.
|
1827
Captain Francis Rossi retires as Superintendent of Police, and
he is replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Morisset.
|
1828
The Sydney Police strength is 75 men - A Chief Constable, 5
Wardsmen, 11 Conductors, 56 Patrolmen/Constables and a Runner.
|
1829
Captain Rossi is again appointed Superintendent of Police in
Sydney. A Police Station is established at Wellington Valley.
|
1831
Police Superintendents are now stationed at Penrith,
Illawarra, Campbelltown, Maitland and Parramatta. There is now
a Mounted Police contingent at Bathurst.
|
1833
There are now 84 men in the Sydney Police Force. The Sydney
Police Act 1833 is passed.
|
1834
There are now 99 men in the Sydney Police Force.
|
1836
Three N.S.W. Constables - Robert Day, Joseph Hoosen and James
Dwyer - are sent to Port Phillip to establish a Police Force.
|
1838
The Mounted Police now number over 160 officers and men in New
South Wales.
|
1839
The Border Police Unit is established. There are now 128 men
in the Sydney Police Force. This number will be reduced to 80
Constables by the end of the year. Albury is established as a
Police outpost.
|
1840
The Water Police Act is passed, establishing a Water Police
Force of 15 operational and 12 support personnel.
|
1841
There are 110 men in the Sydney Police Force. William Augustus
Miles becomes Commissioner of the Sydney Police.
|
1842
Sydney is proclaimed a city. The Sydney Foot Police are
reduced from 90 to 65 Constables.
|
1843
There are now only 89 men in the Sydney Police Force. An
Inquiry is held into the Sydney Water Police.
|
1844
There are now 32 Mounted Police Stations in New South Wales.
Sydney Police have their wages reduced. Constables now earn
three shillings per day.
|
1846
The New South Wales Border Police Unit is disbanded.
|
1847
There are now 115 men in the Sydney Police Force. They
comprise 6 Inspectors, 12 Sergeants, 1 District Constable and
96 other Constables.
|
1848
A large riot takes place in Sydney. The St James Watch-house
and Courthouse are attacked by a mob. The Mounted Aboriginal
Police Unit is established.
|
1850
The Military Mounted Police are disbanded and replaced by a
civil Mounted Police Unit. The New South Wales Police
Regulation Act now places all Police in the state under the
control of an Inspector General.
|
1851
The Police Gold Escort is formed. William Spain is appointed
Inspector General of Police. The Mounted Road Patrol is
established.
|
1852
The Police Regulation Act 1850 is rejected by the British
Parliament and the Inspector General's power is reduced to the
County of Cumberland and the Mounted Police to the country
areas. Captain William Mayne becomes Inspector General of
Police. The Sydney Water Police now number about 28 men,
including 2 Detectives.
|
1853
The Police Recruiting Act 1853 is passed. As a result, Police
are now recruited from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Free passage to Australia was exchanged for a minimum of 3
years Police service.
|
1855
The first recruits of the Police Recruiting Act
arrive in Australia. |
1856
Captain John McLerie replaces William Mayne as
Inspector General of Police. |
1859
Gold Escort Police are placed under the control of
Road Superintendents. The Mounted Aboriginal Police Unit
is disbanded. |
1861
The population of Sydney is now 85,790 people, and
the city is linked by telegraph to Brisbane. Serious
riots occur at Lambing Flat goldfields, and the Police
and military are sent to contain the situation. As a
result, the previous ad hoc, fragmentary system of
policing in New South Wales will be replaced the
following year with a single, centrally administered
organisation. |
|
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