The following is a copy from the news report of the government inquiry into the conditions of the police services
in Australia in 1835.
This section of the report covers the district of Wollongong.
Reports for the remaining districts (Van Diemens Land, Maitland,Paterson,Bathurst,Windsor,Argyle,Goulburn,Windsor,
Patricks Plains, Ivermien and Yass Plains) can be found at Genseek's Police History
The Committee (consisting of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General,
Mr Berry, H.H.M'Arthur, and Mr Bell ) was appointed to "..enquire into and report upon the establishment
and strength of the Police Force and all it's branches, to what extent
it may be expedient to maintain it, and the expense it will occasion, and
to enquire into the capacity and condition of the Gaols in the colony,
and to report what additional buildings appear to be required, and
the probably expense of providing them.." .
presented by © J.Fawcett (Genseek) 2002 |
"Wed.June 3rd 1835.
W.N.Gray, Esq., police magistrate, called in and examined:
The district of Wollongong extends from Bulli on the north
to Shoalhaven River on the south, and from the sea to the range of
mountains which bound Illawarra on the west.
The population of the district amounts to nine hundred and
thiry persons. In consequence of there being no magistrate near
the coast,to the south of my district, I am obliged to send mounted
police and constables frequently as far to the southward as Bateman
Bay.
The police in the district consist of two constables, at two
shillings and three pence per diem,one scourger at one shilling per
diem, and three mounted policemen, who have a soldier attached to them
for the purpose of taking charge of their barracks.
There is a lock-up house now building at Wollongong, which is
nearly finished, and will contain two rooms and a hall.There are three
cells attached.There is also a court-house there, containing one
court room, a room for the records and a room for the lock-up keeper,
who is also the scourger. All these buildings are in one enclosure,
surrounded by a twelve feet paling. The court-house is a brick
building with a stone foundation. The lock-up is a strong log building
also with a stone foundation. The average weekly cases at the
Wollongong bench is about four, at which three-fourths are convict
cases.
The great distance that the southern part of the district is
from the Bench prevents many settlers from brining their servants to
trial as frequently as they would do were they nearer. I consider
that one half of the convict population of the district is at or near
Shoalhaven; but, notwithstanding this circumstance, there have been
only eight cases, from that part of the country, brought before the
Bench within the last twelve months.
I am of the opinion, that in addition to the present police
force of the district, one constable should be stationed at or near
Shoalhaven River, and that a trustworthy person should be appointed
lock-up keeper at Wollongong.
Suitors have to come to the Wollongong Bench fifty miles
from places in the district; but some have also to come from as far
as Bateman's Bay.
About three years ago, it was usual for the Police Magistrate
of Wollongong to hold a Police Court once a month at Kiama, but this
custom has been discontinued since the departure of Mr Sleeman from
the district.I,however, consider that it would be desirable to hold
a court there occasiionally now, or farther south,at a boat-harbour
called Geringong,which is within ten miles of the southern extremity
of that district, and where there is a Government reserve for a
village.
There are two unpaid magistrates in the Wollongong district
who attend the Bench when required. The Clerk of the Bench has a
salary of £90 a year; he acts likewise in the capacity of deputy-
postmaster, from which he derives an income of about £10 a year. In
addition to these, he holds the appointment of registrar to the Court
of Requests, with a salary of £30 a year.
The mounted police are never employed in any but police duties.
I find no difficulty in obtaining as many fit persons to fill
the situation of constable, as are required for the district. The
present constables are free by servitude,and the scourger is a prisoner
of the crown. I should have no objection to employ a prisoner of the
crown as a constable occasionally with free men.
My salary as police magistrate is £150 a year,and I am allowed
a house.
Wollongong is distant only seven miles from the northern,but
fifty from the southern extremities of the district. The population
of that part north of Wollongong amounts to sixty persons; the
remained of the population of the district being to the southwards of
it.
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