District Constables of Campbelltown
In the early days of the colony, the South Australian police force had insufficient numbers to provide adequate protection in country areas. This led to the enactment of the “Country Constables Act of 1852”.
Country Constables Act (1852)
An Act to provide for the appointment of Constables in the Country Districts of South Australia.
“That the Collector for the time being of any District Council shall… make out a list in writing of every able-bodied man within the district, between the ages of twenty-one and fifty, entitled to vote in the election of the District Council… stating his rank and calling and place of residence. … The District Council shall choose therefrom the names of such persons as they shall deem necessary… to serve as constables for the Province during the ensuing year”, effective 1st July 1853.
Lists of candidates were posted at “public and conspicuous” locations throughout the District and nominees had 14 days in which to lodge an objection. If an eligible candidate was unwilling to serve, they could propose a substitute. Anyone who refused to serve, without providing a substitute, was subject to a fine.
Once chosen, candidates were required to swear an oath of office:
“I (A.B.), of (C.), do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of constable for the Province of South Australia, for the year now next following, according to the best of my skill and ability.
SO HELP ME GOD.”
District constables did not receive a salary, but were awarded a percentage of any fines collected or reimbursed from the general revenue of the district council on a case-by-case basis.
Instructions for the Guidance of Country Constabulary (1855)
In a tacit acknowledgement of their lack of training, guidance, and equipment, district constables were issued with instructional booklets, staves, and handcuffs, from 1855 onwards.
District Council of East Torrens (1853)
The District Council of East Torrens was proclaimed on 26th May 1853. This large District stretched from Kent Town to Uraidla, including the whole of the modern day Campbelltown City Council.
Like many district councils, East Torrens was reluctant to enact the Country Constables Act of 1852; they considered it a wholly inadequate response to question of country policing. The counter argument was that district constables were largely symbolic and acted as a deterrent to crime.
In 1855, a series of robberies in the neighbourhoods of Athelstone and Darley (now Paradise), by the ‘young footpad’ Richard Graves, led to increasing calls for the appointment of special constables:
“Such daring villainy, however, can scarcely fail to draw the attention of the District Council for East Torrens to the urgent necessity of at once appointing special constables; say, one at Payneham, two at Magill, and one each at Darley and Athelstone. The residents in these localities have frequently pointed out to the members of the Council their wishes on this point, but nothing has yet been done.”
On 9th May 1856, the Clerk of the District Council of East Torrens “Was directed to issue the necessary notice for bringing into operation the District Constables Act.”
On 13th June 1856, the District Council of East Torrens reported, “That 50 copies of the lists showing the names of parties liable to serve as district constables be printed and published according to the Act.”
However, the appointment of district constables in Campbelltown did not happen at this time, as moves were already afoot to separate the District Council of East Torrens into three smaller councils: Burnside, Payneham, and East Torrens.
District Council of Payneham (1856)
The District Council of Payneham was proclaimed on 14th August 1856.
On 30th July 1857:
“The Clerk to post notices at the different public places, that at the next meeting, August 12, appeals will be heard against the list of persons to serve as District Constables; and on the following meeting, August 26th, a list will be made of persons to serve.”
On 30th September 1857, the first district constables for the District Council of Payneham were sworn into office:
“The following persons were sworn as district constables:— Thomas Denby, of Stepney; August Schneider, of Stepney ; Benjamin Turner, of [Marden] ; Edwin Foyle, of Glynde; William Wardrope Cameron, of Campbelltown ; Henry [Wakelin], of Campbelltown ; Newling Neeves, of Athelstone; William Russell, of Athelstone; Alexander Calderwood, of Magill; John Strawbridge, of Woodforde.”
On 28th October 1857, an additional district constable was appointed due to ongoing construction at the Water Works (Thorndon Park Reservoir):
“Resolved that William Cox of Athelstone be appointed District Constable, in consequence of increase of men at the Water Works, the Council deeming it necessary to add to their number.”
However, fears about the lack of appropriate training, guidance, and equipment, were soon realised when District Constable George Hill of Campbelltown was ‘severely stabbed’ in the execution of his duty.
On 12th September 1859:
“George Hill, a district constable, having been severely stabbed while endeavouring to secure a party supposed to be concerned in the recent robberies; the Council considered his brave conduct deserving of a liberal reward, and resolved that a subscription be opened.”
Local men refused to serve as district constables following the stabbing of George Hill, except briefly in the more settled area of Stepney.
On 30th July 1860:
“Clerk to write to district constables, requesting them to deliver their truncheons, &c., on a date named, when they will be discharged from further duty.”
The role of district constables in the District Council of Payneham did not fully recover until July 1866, when George Hill, the district constable injured in the line of duty, was himself the Chairman of the District Council of Payneham. He ensured that “three district constables nominated for each of the five wards.”
The famous former police constable, Henry Alford, now the proprietor of the Glynde Hotel, sworn in as a district constable on 26th September 1866, following legal advice.
However, once again this proved to be too little, too late, as the process of further subdividing the District Council of Payneham, into Stepney and Campbelltown, was already underway. The District Council of Stepney was proclaimed on 25th July 1867. The remainder of the District Council of Payneham was in effect, Campbelltown.
No district constables were appointed during this interim period.
District Council of Campbelltown (1868)
The District Council of Campbelltown was proclaimed on 27th February 1868.
The appointment of district constables normalised following the establishment of the District Council of Campbelltown. However, the position was increasing viewed as an honorary one, confined to minor local offences. With the notable exception of the manslaughter of John Guerin at Athelstone on 21st December 1872:
“John Farmer, of Athelstone, farmer, District Constable... Arrested the prisoner [Ernest August Boehm] on the 21st of December [1872], at night, on the charge of shooting one John Guerin.”
As the population increased, so did the instances of serious crime. The Norwood Police Station opened in 1876 and the Marryatville Police Station in 1885 intended to police the Eastern suburbs in general. However, there were no police stationed in Campbelltown until the establishment of the Magill Police Station in 1898.
The newspapers reported on 12th July 1898, “Payneham, Magill, and Campbelltown are practically without police protection, and a message has to be sent to headquarters in the city when any assistance is required.”
On 1st August 1898, six new members of the Police Force were enrolled, in accordance with the recommendation of Commissioner of Police in his report to Government. Among the new appointments was a mounted-constable to take charge of the district from Payneham to Magill.
In November 1898, Mounted Constable William Keating, was one of the first to be stationed a house in Chapel Street, Magill, owned by the Methodist church. A purpose-built Magill Police Station, Magill Road, Magill, replaced this temporary accommodation in 1909.
The need for district constables diminished, firstly in Woodforde Ward (Magill), and then rest of Campbelltown, with the establishment of the Campbelltown Police Station on 16th February 1915. Constable Patrick McInerney was the first foot constable in Campbelltown.
The final district constables appointed were those for the financial year 1913-14.
Lists of District Constables
The attached lists of district constables are from various sources, including council minutes and newspaper reports. These sources often disagree with each other regarding spelling and first names.
1868 - 1886 District Constables
Timeline of Local Government in Campbelltown
- District Councils Act, 1852 assented to 25th November 1852
- District Council of East Torrens 26th May 1853 to 13th August 1856
- District Council of Payneham 14th August 1856 to 26th February 1868
- District Council of Campbelltown 27th February 1868 to 10th April 1946
- Municipal Council of Campbelltown 11th April 1946 to 5th May 1960
- Campbelltown City Council 6th May 1960 to present day
Researched and compiled by Helen Thiselton, Local History Officer, from documents transcribed by Karen Beniulis of the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact Helen on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au
References
South Australia. Country Constables Act (No 15 of 15 and 16 Vic, 1852) http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/num_act/cca15o15a16v1852323/
South Australia. Police Commissioner’s Office. (1884) “Instructions for the guidance of country constabulary, as revised by the Crown Solicitor, 16th Sept. 1865.” Adelaide, Government Printer. https://catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:443/record=b1387427~S1
ASSOCIATION OF CHAIRMEN OF DISTRICT COUNCILS. (1855, June 30). Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), p. 7. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158104263
A Young Footpad. (1855, June 15). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 2. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49310766
Payneham. (1857, October 3). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 3. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49208211
Payneham. (1859, September 17). South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), p. 7. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96491070
Law Courts. Charge of Murder. (1872, February 17). South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881), p. 9. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92271114
Police Protection. (1898, July 12). The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), p. 2 (ONE O'CLOCK EDITION). Retrieved August 26, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209151277
The Police. (1898, August 2). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 4. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29414031