Community & Business
14 May, 2024
The history of Leyburn Police Station
The Queensland Police Museum has compiled the following information about the Leyburn Police Station.
Prior to inauguration of the Queensland Police Force in 1864, Sub-Inspector William Harris with Constables Henry Harris, John Brophy and John Broderick policed Leyburn.
The policemen served from humble quarters; in 1862 the Leyburn lockup had cost £550 to build, with a further £227 spend approved for police buildings in 1885.
The Queensland Police Gazette of November 2, 1864 announced Sub-Inspector Harris, Officer in Charge Leyburn Police, was rewarded with £30 for the apprehension of Alexander Ritchie for the murder of Mr Charles Alfred Owen.
Owen was a Magistrate, overseer and part owner of Yandilla Station on the Darling Downs.
Ritchie was later hanged for the crime.
Although homicide in the district was uncommon, other offences ranged from horse and cattle stealing, assault, absconding from service, breach of the
peace, larceny and language offences.
Each year inspections were made of the police station, for the information of the Police Commissioner.
The condition of equipment, buildings, fencing, grounds, staff and uniforms were noted.
In November 1909 Inspector James F. Geraghty attended the Leyburn Police Station from Toowoomba to report on conditions there.
His general remarks noted, “I found the station tidy and clean but the yards were in a filthy condition like an old cattle camp.
“The Constable [Alfred Zendler] alleges that owing to the old fence which encloses the Reserve (which no doubt is in bad repair) cattle come in and camp on the reserve.
“This Constable is milking two cows and I am of the opinion that these cows cause the nuisance.
“I told the Constable that if I again found the place in such condition I would recommend his transfer.”
Constable Zendler was not transferred, and retired in 1910.
Brisbane’s Courier Mail reported, on January 23 1936, a fire which razed the police station and destroyed contents owned by the Constable in residence, R. G. Turner.
The five room building could not be saved, however the main Leyburn Police office remained unaffected.
A new police station was erected later that year costing £1026 and Constable Turner’s family reported moving into the residence on September 7, 1936.
In recent years an original boundary marking, in the form of a large tree, blazed with an arrow and lettering was discovered when a land owner noticed these distinct features.
The symbol denoting a Government Police Reserve is etched into the cambium layer of an old Ironbark tree.
The significance of the tree as a boundary marker for the original Leyburn Police Reserve has not gone unnoticed.
As a way to protect its history, the tree was relocated to the Leyburn Police Station.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Contact by email: museum@police.qld.gov.au
