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The Justice and Police Museum in Sydney offers a thorough study of the evolution of law and criminal trends in New South Wales. With its store of documents, weapons and artifacts related to the most notorious crimes of the area, the museum is a most fascinating place to visit in Sydney. The building in which the museum is housed, had had a long association with law, and hence provides a rich store of objects to narrate the history of police in the area. The museum now spreads over the magistrate’s court, charge room court and the cell which had served the erstwhile police station. The old building has now been restored back to its 1890s look and stands as a majestic sandstone structure with spike gates and winding stairs which create an ideal setting for the story the museum has to tell. Mock trials are even how arranged in the court room. The Justice and Police Museum comprises of three buildings – the Water Police Court, the Water Police station and the Police Court. The Water Police Court is constructed with unique Roman basilicas architecture. The huge porch now works as a public hall and the Victorian court room still stands with its cedar panels and windows. The museum has a Room of Remembrance to commemorate the policemen who had paid the price of their lives to execute their duty. Most of these men are watchmen and constables who had been murdered after 1862, i.e., the year when the New South Wales Police Force was established. Collection of the Justice and Police Museum: The museum preserves an intriguing reserve of articles that help in recreating the hair rising crime stories that had baffled the police men decades ago. With arms, gears, medals, death masks and photos, the museum showcases every element to arrest the interest of the ones keen on mysteries and thrills. The displays help to trace the change in the use of arms and investigation techniques over the years. Some of the most captivating collections are- A most macabre item displayed here is a facial model of a girl whose murder story had perplexed the police and earned her the name of the Pyjama Girl. The mystery of her murder in the 1930s still remains unraveled and the model of her face serves to evoke a queer feel in the audience. The museum shelves a silver medal which had been gifted to a humble lockup keeper who manifested his bravery by killing the infamous criminal Captain Thunderbolt in 1870. Captain Moonlight’s death mask forms another intriguing item in the museum’s display. Moonlight had been a notorious bushranger and after he was hung in 1880, the mask had been made of his skull to aid the phrenological studies, and the mask and many others stand today as an evidence the now obsolete science of phrenology. Another interesting display is a hand tinted glass painting of Ben Hall, a noted bush ranger who hoodwinked the police committing one robbery after the other. Other facts: The museum has a small shop supplying books and journals related to crimes and judicial system in Australia. Guided tours are arranged to give the visitors a thorough understanding of the items displayed. The museum is open to the public on the weekends, though during the holidays, it can be visited everyday. Address: Justice & Police Museum
Cnr Albert and Phillip Streets,
Circular Quay, Sydney, NSW 2000
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