Site 21 – Police Station
Law and order have been part of Burren Junction’s story since before the township itself was established.
The district’s first permanent police station was located at Old Burren in 1893. The lock-up stood on land now known as “Noreen”, while the police horse paddock was situated opposite the Old Burren Hotel. The first constable appointed was Robert Graham, who joined the Queensland Police before transferring to New South Wales. He later retired in 1931 with the rank of Police Inspector.
As Burren Junction developed following the arrival of the railway, policing also moved to the new township. A police station was established during the railway construction period in 1903, and in 1904 a weatherboard police station and lock-up were built on the corner of Alma and Waterloo Streets.
The new complex included police living quarters, two lock-up cells, a two-stall stable and feed room for the police horses. One room was later converted into an office, and a courtroom was added, allowing many local matters to be heard in Burren Junction. Newspaper reports of the time noted that the new building was a welcome improvement over the tent accommodation previously occupied by the local constable.
The first officer believed to have been stationed at Burren Junction was Constable Thomas Johns, who was serving in the district by 1904. By 1910, Burren Junction had become a two-man police station with a Senior Constable and Constable serving the growing community.
For many years, police officers travelled throughout the district on horseback, patrolling isolated stations, investigating stock theft, attending railway incidents and providing assistance across a vast rural area. In 1948, the police horses were replaced by a motorcycle, marking the beginning of motorised policing in Burren Junction. Today, modern police vehicles have replaced both horses and motorcycles, but the role of serving and protecting the community remains unchanged.
Throughout its history, Burren Junction police have responded to everything from stock disputes and railway accidents to major criminal investigations and emergencies. As the district grew, the station became an important part of community life, providing both law enforcement and assistance to residents across the region.
Although court sittings are now conducted in larger regional centres, the Burren Junction Police Station continues to provide an essential service to the district.
Today, Senior Constable Nick Ruttley, Officer in Charge and Lock-up Keeper, continues this proud tradition of country policing. Well known throughout the community, Nick has taken great pride in maintaining both the police station and its grounds. He has also made use of the old police horse paddock by creating a small hobby farm, home to guinea fowl, chickens, sheep, alpacas and even a friendly donkey. It has become a favourite sight for local residents and visitors alike and reflects the close relationship that continues to exist between the Burren Junction Police Station and the community it serves.
More than 120 years after the first police station was established in the district, the Burren Junction Police Station remains an important landmark and a symbol of the dedication of the many police officers who have served Burren Junction over the generations.
Police Officers Who Served Burren Junction
Some of the later officers appointed to Burren Junction include:
- Constable E. A. Thompson – 1939–1947
- Kingsley Gordon Parsons – 1948–1951
- Ross G. Gibson – 1951–1957
- Robert Walter Frost – 1954–1956
- Colin Alfred Taylor – 1961
- John Peden – 1961
- E. J. (Ted) Beaver – 1966
- B. G. N. (Bernie) Spooner – 1972
- T. M. (Terry) Kelleher – 1975
- R. M. (Ron) Alexander – 1981
- C. G. (Chris) Kennedy – 1982
- T. W. (Terry) Hall – 1986
Historical information sourced primarily from Visions of the Plains – A History of Burren Junction and District (2nd Edition) by Judy Field, together with local community records.
Photos
Photo Burren Junction Police Station Today
The Burren Junction Police Station today. The station continues to serve the district from its Alma Street location, more than 120 years after policing first began in the Burren district.
Photo Burren Junction Police Station (Historic View)
An earlier view of the Burren Junction Police Station and residence. While the buildings have seen changes over the years, they remain one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks.