Police Force....'from a ByGone Era.'

Police Force....from a By-Gone Era.

This post will be the first of a series of blogs featuring images and information "From a By-Gone Era." All of them were captured from The Caboolture Heritage Village in Queensland, Australia.

A large number of visitors (like myself) will have many a memory triggered by the sights as they stroll down every street, view the old time barber and butcher shops, the General store, cottages, the old Caboolture hospital, and Railway Station and so much more. As they read the informative plaques and posters, and absorb the rich history within this village, they will realize (as I did) just how times have changed.

Many of the cottages were moved here from various sites within the Caboolture area but my focus today is the exhibition from the Queensland Prison’s Museum.

The Caboolture Historical Village, is located on 280 Beerburrum Road. This fascinating village is situated on 4 hectares (about 12 acres) of land not far from the Caboolture town centre and is one of the top tourist destinations in the region. I could understand why that was after spending a couple of hours taking in the interesting buildings, displays and reading about experiences and stories lived by locals ……from a By-Gone Era.

I walked up the steps of the old Police Headquarters and gazed at the uniforms once worn by Queensland Police men and women. As if they didn't have enough challenges without having to contend with wearing uniforms that did not look compatible with the extreme heat of summer which is common in this part of Australia.

The Caboolture Heritage Village happens to be the largest tourist attraction in the region, and comprises of over 70 buildings, with more than 110,000 museum pieces available on display. When visitors first pass through the entrance of the Village they are immediately transported back in time as the things of yesteryear greet them.

The dream of preserving local heritage started with the formation of the Caboolture Historical Society in 1957. The first building arrived 20 years later when the old Caboolture Shire Council Chambers was moved to the site. On the 10th December 2017 the Society celebrated its 60th Anniversary.

Due largely to the willing contribution of many volunteers and supporters, the Village has grown to be a very popular destination for tourists and locals. It is a most enjoyable way to explore the local history.

Artifacts encased in glass cabinets.

Hiatt Handcuffs. They look pretty solid don't they? But for Nathan Jones (otherwise known as, "The Colossus (or Monster) of Boggo Road," one of Queensland's most notorious prisoners; a pair of handcuffs were child's play to him and did not detain him for long.

Below,is a picture of him and I will include the information provided next to it.

Nathan Jones is a convicted criminal from Q'ld. He was committed for trial on seven armed holdups with threats of violence. He spent two terms in Boggo Rd Prison. The first as a quiet young boy, the second as a doped up druggie from steroid use.

He seriously assaulted a senior officer and broke a set of handcuffs. He used brute force to rip up a cell door off its hinges, He could not run around the oval as his thigh muscles were too large and this would be one of his weaknesses.

The opportunity was seen by a group of aboriginals to give him a real tough up, and they did. Jones did not know what hit him and from then on, he avoided the dark skin brethren. Nathan Jones will always be a convict.

I read an article written in The Courier Mail in which, Jones was referred to as 'Mountain Man.' Nathan Jones was cast in a Mad Max movie staring Tom Hardy, and Charlize Theron. This 7 foot, 150 kg giant also appeared in roles alongside Brad Pitt, Steve Austin, Tara Reid and film veteran, Bill Moseley.

Jones tells of being type cast as 'the big screen baddie' after Jackie Chan discovered him at a World's Strongest Man contest.

Let's check out the Lock Up as it was a few decades ago!

Stocks and Pillory......this form of corporal punishment was originally used as a very effective restraining device to punish people for crimes such as swearing and drunkeness. (Our forests would be baren if these laws still applied, as there would not be enough timber to build sufficient stocks with which to restrain such offenders today. Indeed. How times have changed!)

It was not uncommon to have criminals sit or stand at wooden frames just like these and locals made sport out of throwing rotten food or even stones at them.The courts found this method useful from the humiliation aspect but believed it was also an effective means as a deterrent and as a form of rehabilitation.

Here is The Morgue. Which just happened to be situated next door to the Lock Up.

Brass Padlock.

Information regarding this brass padlock reads:

Joseph William Hubball - Lock Manufacturer.
J. Hubball, Melbourne is inscribed into the brass padlock that was used to secure the cell door of the Police Lockup for many decades.

Joseph Hubball can be traced back to at least 1918, where he advertised for a trained locksmith. Joseph conducted business @ 474 Lonsdale Rd. Melbourne with his son Alfred.

It is not until the 28th of March 1947, that we find him applying for a certificate of Incorporation of a Company in his name. The Directors of this company are William Hubball & Alfred Hubball.

The standard and quality of these padlocks is testament to the ingenuity of the family company.

Below are images of a typical typical Jail Cell of that era.

And here are the essentials as deemed necessary by the authorities. Somehow I don't think a tin of golden syrup would be enough to sweeten up some hardned criminals.

Improvised Blade Weapons.

Source #1:

Source #2

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.