Queensland Police Museum, Brisbane

The Queensland Police Museum houses a collection of items related to the Queensland Police Service and the history of policing in Queensland. Its origins date back to 1893 when it was initially established to provide police with a collection of items for technical study.

This collection was quite diverse, including some rather unsettling items. Initially, these objects were kept at the Petrie Terrace Police Depot, and police officers were required to view them as part of their training. Even by 1930, the museum remained located at the Petrie Terrace Barracks.

On July 13, 1949, the collection was officially entrusted to Detective Constable Les Bardwell, who headed the Technical Section of the Criminal Investigation Branch. The collection was initially housed in an old church building on George Street and later in the basement of Morcome House across the street. Bardwell was enthusiastic about studying, categorizing, and presenting these items as part of a museum collection, which would complement his already extensive firearm reference collection.

In 1980, the museum opened its doors to the public. By the late 1980s, plans were in motion to construct a new Police Headquarters in Roma Street, which would include a purpose-built facility for the museum. This new building, along with the museum, opened in August 1990. The display area was organized into six color-themed sections: Heritage, Crime, Technology, Developments, Murder, and Crisis.

The exhibition space features 25 displays that cover a wide range of policing themes. Public programs offered by the museum include a tailored education program and monthly presentations with guest speakers from historical and crime-solving backgrounds. The Queensland Police Museum utilizes its archival resources, exhibitions, and public programs to compare modern policing with its historical counterparts.