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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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First published on 30 December 1853, the weekly Victoria Police Gazette was closely modelled on a similar publication that had been produced in England on a weekly basis since 1828. Assembled in the Detectives Office, Little Collins Street, it was distributed to all police stations in Victoria and to other government departments and newspaper offices. The gazette contained lists of stolen property, notifications of rewards offered, instructions to members of the force and descriptions of individuals sought by police, including missing persons, military deserters, escaped prisoners and lunatics. From 1906 a monthly supplement included photographs of discharged prisoners. In 1938 a weekly photo supplement of wanted and suspected persons was also added. The Police Gazette is still published today, although its importance has diminished with advances in communication technology.