Queensland Police Museum

The Queensland Police Museum is a fascinating secret trove that contains the history of crime, law and order since the Queensland Police force was established in a tent in 1864, and arrested prisoners were attached to trees.

From its home on the ground floor of the Queensland Police HQ, it features some 25 displays covering the history of the police force, famous Queensland crimes such as the still unsolved murder of Betty Shanks in 1952, operational equipment through the ages, the role of female policewomen, and a confronting mock up murder scene to solve.

Amongst the intriguing exhibits on display are one of the petrol drums from the Whiskey Au Go Go mass killing, the home made bombs used by crazed Wickham Terrace murderer Karl Kast, early handcuffs and batons, and gas masks from World War II air raid shelter wardens.

by Jodi Panayotov