The Men in Blue

When Albert Wallbank (1887-1953) joined the Police Force in 1913, there was no state-wide police uniform in New South Wales. Prior to 1934, country police were issued a mixture of khaki and blue uniforms. This particular blue heavy serge fabric, shaped in a tunic style jacket, with a high celluloid or linen-lined collar and double-breast […]

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From Rattle to Whistle

Made in the famous J Hudson & Co Ltd factory in Birmingham, this whistle belonged to Senior Constable Albert Wallbank (1887-1953), a long-standing officer at Dudley Police Station, south of Newcastle. Like many aspects of standard police issue equipment in New South Wales, this whistle was inherited from the British ‘bobby’ (slang term for a […]

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Certified Bird Nerds

The Gould League of Bird Lovers was one of Australia’s early organised societies for budding ornithologists and general bird nerds. The League was formed in 1909 with the view of protecting Australia’s avian species. It was named after John Gould (1804-1881), the English naturalist who researched Australian birds from 1838-1840, and his wife Elizabeth Gould […]

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Earning His Stripes

Two black and yellowed fabric patches shaped like the tops of arrows

After 24 years of service at Dudley Police Station, on the 20th July 1945, Constable Albert Edward Wallbank (1887-1953) was promoted to the rank of Senior Constable. Upon receiving his new rank and responsibilities, Wallbank also earned these Senior Constable stripes that were affixed to his uniform. As a policeman, Wallbank dealt with his fair […]

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