The First Night Watch
1789
Image: Sydney in 1789 Francis Fowkes - State Library of NSWThe Night Watch was the forerunner of the Police Force in Sydney and was established in 1789. The men of the Night Watch were drawn from the ranks of the best behaved convicts. Their names are recorded in the Historical Records of Australia.
Governors' Despatches to and from England
The Night WatchThe watch of each district to be under the direction of one person, who will be named for that purpose, and all the patrols to be immediately under the inspection of Herbert Keeling.
They are never to receive any fee, gratuity, or reward from any individual to engage their exertions in the execution of the above trust; nor are they to receive any stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender; but their diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the Governor, and for which purpose their conduct will be strictly attended to by those who are in authority over them.
The night-watch to go out as soon as the tattoo has done beating, to return to their huts when the working drum beats in the morning, and reports to be made at twelve o'clock to the Judge-Advocate of all robberies and misdemeanours, by Herbert Keeling.
Any assistance the patrols may require will be given them on applying to the officer of the nearest guard, and by the civil power if necessary; for which application is to be made to provost-martial. Any negligence on the part of those who may be employed on this duty will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law.
The night-watch consisted of the following -
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Charles Peat
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John Coen Walsh
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John Neal
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William Bradbury
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Thomas Oldfield
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Stephen Le Grove
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John Archer
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Herbert Keeling
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John Massay Cox
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James Clark
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John Marshall
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George Robinson
1796
In 1796 Governor Hunter made a change substituting a system whereby Sydney was divided into areas. Residents within these areas were required to choose from among themselves three "decent and respectable" citizens as watchmen. The police were then placed under the control of John Harris, surgeon of the New South Wales Corps and Police Magistrate at Sydney.
Sources:
Historical Records of Australia, Series 1, Volume 1 1788 - 1796., p 139
The Kyogle Examiner 4 March 1938
Australian Town and Country Journal 24 August 1878
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