The coming of the Australian Agricultural Company to Peel's River in 1834, their headquarters originally at "Killala" (Calala), eventually brought the first law-and-order appointments, but only over the large AA Company land grant.
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William Hardy (1842) was their first recorded constable.
With NSW divided into 9 law-enforcement areas in 1839, Tamworth eventually became the HQ for one of the "judge-and-jury" Commissioners for Crown Lands, the post being filled in 1842 by Edward Mayne who had previously relocated from Murrurundi and Somerton.
He was soon followed in this position by Frances Allman (1843) and Roderick Mitchell (1846).
They were responsible for policing a huge area north of the Liverpool Range through their Border Police force.
Quoting from William Telfer Jnr's very revealing "Wallabadah Manuscript" document (the original now held at the UNE) - "Mitchell was the first to organise native police. He enlisted seven aboriginals as mounted police. When mounted and in uniform, they looked very martial with their drawn swords. The leader 'Flash Harry' looked every inch a soldier. He was over 6 feet high."
Tamworth's first Chief Constable under Mitchell was David Lundon (1847).
With Mitchell's establishment where Eastpoint Supermarket is now located, the Police Barracks were nearby at the site of the current McDonald's East Restaurant.
Eventually a Liverpool Plains Crown Lands District was formed in 1851, with the highly respected James Dwyer in charge of all Tamworth-based police, answerable to Roderick Mitchell.
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They covered a huge area from Ardglen to Guyra, out to Warialda and Moree and back across up the Mooki to Ardglen.
Again from the Wallabadah Manuscript - "Mr Dwyer was the Chief Constable at Tamworth with only two police. They were well acquainted with the bush and many a chase they had after horse stealers and other criminals and, making great captures. Mr Dwyer was a clever bush detective. He was always on the lookout for wrongdoers. His name was a terror to them."
By 1853 Dwyer had a staff of 5 policemen, with 2 additional mounted men to provide a gold escort from Nundle to Tamworth.
So valued was Dwyer's service that he was afforded a Testimonial Dinner after only 4 years, being presented with a gold watch and a purse of 84 sovereigns.
He died in 1868 of "colonial Fever" (probably typhoid) and is buried in the West Tamworth Cemetery.
What a pity that his fallen gravestone had almost disappeared from view when chanced upon by myself a few years back.
Dwyer was replaced in 1862 when a Northern Police District was formed under the first Superintendent James Garland, the HQ being the previous Royal Hotel at 373-377 Peel Street (now Target).
Garland and his wife and 11 children lived on the upstairs floor, with police offices and single police accommodation downstairs.
This police establishment was relocated in 1872 to a block of land between Rawson, Fitzroy and Carthage Streets, with Garland's residence being at the now heritage-listed 76 Fitzroy Street.
By 1938 the Marius Street Police Station had been opened, now extending into Fitzroy Street
West Tamworth Police Stations have been variously located over the years in Ebsworth, Crown and Gipps Street, and finally at 89 Belmore Street, now a private home.
- Want to research Tamworth history? Have questions or information to share? Contact us via email tamworthhistorical@bigpond.com or call 61 2 6765 7492 or drop in to 142 Denison Street, Tamworth.
