Queensland Police Museum

On 31 May 1895 the Police Museum collection was written up in the Brisbane Courier:[1][3]… the exhibits in the museum, founded by Mr Finucane, speaking of the seamy side of colonial life, are a painful reminder that criminal instincts, slumbering in the hearts of men, like extinct volcanoes, belch forth at times in full eruption…The collection was by nature eclectic and included some very gruesome things.

In the Truth on 17 September 1933 the article was titled as Brisbane Chamber of Horrors: Grisley Relics of Ghastly Crimes and summarised as:[1][4]… reminders of dark and dreadful deeds in the wild days when Queensland pioneers were waging a fierce and furious fight in the cause of justice lie there, amid dust and stillness and mutely bear witness to many a strange and terrible tale…The museum was described by The Sunday Mail in May 1936 as Queensland’s Black Museum and the article titled as Grim Relics of Early Crimes.

[1][5] On 13 July 1949, the collection was officially handed over into the care of Detective Constable Les Bardwell head of the Technical Section, Criminal Investigation Branch, at the old church building in George Street and then the basement level of Morcome House across the road.

[1] Bardwell also wanted to show off the collection and in September 1949 requested the purchase of display cases to be used at the annual Royal National Exhibition (now known as the Ekka).

[1] In 1980 the museum was opened to the public on Wednesday afternoons and in 1981 Ross Chippindall, an assistant in the Media Liaison office was appointed as part-time curator.

In 1986 Gabrielle Flynn, with skills in historical research and education, was appointed as fulltime curator and the museum began opening for 5+1⁄2 hours per week.

The curator, Gabrielle Flynn was kept busy with visiting school groups, designing photographic displays and answering historical enquiries.

[1] Since 1997 when the current curator was employed, staffing levels have grown to five; the education program thrives; more than 13,000 visitors come into the museum every year and opening hours have expanded to include the last Sunday of the month (February–November) at which lectures are given about historical and contemporary policing.