POLICE STATION

On the 15th of June 1911 James Bell, Hon. Secretary of the Progress Association, wrote to the Commissioner of Police requesting a police station and police protection.

The railway was being built between Tambellup and Ongerup.

Gnowangerup, because of its central position would be an excellent site for a police station.

The association on the 28th February 1912 through Arnold Piesse, MLA, made a further request for Katanning:

‘as navvies have reached Gnowangerup Hope you can send constable there at once’

(At the time the town was named: Ngowangerup. The‘"navvies" referred to are the workers employed to built the railway line)

 OLD GNOWANGERUP POLICE STATION                #1
 

LOOKING NORTH DOWN YOUGENUP STREET, GNOWANGERUP 1912                  #2
 

And on the 19th of March 1912 Piesse again wrote to the commissioner:

‘visits made by neighbouring police officers insufficient to control the rowdy element that is now located at Gnowangerup’.

Sub Inspector Lappin visited Gnowangerup on the 10th and 11th of April 1912 and recognised the need to open a police station there.

He was quite satisfied that it was advisable to open a station there as soon as possible as Gnowangerup was 25 miles from Broomehill and Tambellup being the nearest police stations.

At the time Gnowangerup had 50 habitations, 2 banks (National and Bank of Australasia), 1 two-storey hotel , 2 blacksmith shops, 1 hairdresser and tobacconist, 1 tailor, 3 boarding houses and several stores.

Sub Inspector Lappin advise: ‘Residents unanimous requesting police protection. Navvies constantly in the town site and require constant supervision to stop fighting, bad language, two-up schools, etc.

Constable McArthur arrived in Gnowangerup on the 8th June 1912 and erected canvas police quarters, and was open for duty.

Constable McArthur reported to Sub Inspector Lappin at Albany on the 12th of June 1912:

“I respectfully report having arrived at Gnowangerup on the morning of the eighth instant and have now police camp erected on police reserve at this township. I have received certain articles from police stores Perth, such as cooking utensils, a hand saw, hammer etc for erecting police camp But up to the present I have not yet received any stationary of any kind, nor ink, pencils or office table, officer or hurricane lamps, natives chains etc, which are urgently required for carrying out police duty in this sub police district”.

                  FIRST TRAIN AT THE GNOWANGERUP RAILWAY STATION               #3
 

Gnowangerup Police Station occurrence book of 1912 is recorded as being held at the police station in 1977 by Merle Bignell in her book “The Fruit of the Country”.

A thorough search of the station and discussions with current staff reveals that this book was last sighted at the police station in about 1980. It has now been lost.

On 8 June 1912 PC McArthur, 373, arrived, and set about erecting his own canvas police quarters. His area of duty stretched to Jerramungup, including the headquarters of his ... predecessor P C. George Chester of Magitup. On the whole, McArthur's life was placid, only an occasional drunk or someone accused of using obscene language bothered him.

On 1 July 1912 PC McArthur recorded in his day book:

The first government Passenger train arrived at Gnowangerup 1.30 p.m., 254 passengers. Returned Tambellup (sic) 2.30PM 14 passengers. Gnowangerup Police Station Occurrence Book)’

In 2021 the police station was given a facelift and returned to its original colour. It had been painted blue for some years prior to the latest colour change.
 

 OLD GNOWANGERUP POLICE STATION                  #4
 

  OLD GNOWANGERUP  GOAL                  #5
 

OLD GNOWANGERUP POLICE STATION                   #6
 

 OLD GNOWANGERUP POLICE STATION                    #7
 

OLD GNOWANGERUP POLICE STATION                  #8
 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:      

                                  Image:     4, 5, 6, 7. 8            Gnowanerup Heritage Group

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024