From the Archives A Piece of our Past W
THE YARRA – MORGUES, MURDER AND MAYHEM EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON
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hile it is a popular meeting spot for Melburnians, most people probably do not realise the Yarra River is not just murky in colour. The Victoria Police Museum will host an exhibition titled Yarra-Morgues, Murder and Mayhem from the end of August. Over the decades the Yarra River has been the site of many gruesome murders, suicides and crimes. When Melbourne was first settled, believe it or not, residents could drink from the river’s water. As time went by however, it became the city sewer and turned into a dumping ground. Industries such as abattoirs, tanneries and bone mills often discarded their goods there. ec ty s In the 1850s, due to the city’s prisons being filled, floating ting jails were set up at the mouth of the Yarra River.. .02
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AUGUST 2011 POLICELIFE
In the same era, because of the number of bodies being retrieved from the river needing an inquest, it was decided the river bed would be the ideal spot for Melbourne’s first morgue. As a macabre tourist attraction, the identified dead were put out on public display. But as social etiquettes changed and inquest procedures became more professional, this practice stopped and thrill seekers were left to find something else to look at. There are also stories about suicides. During economic depressions, reports show an increase of people who had taken their own lives, as well as drowned babies. As the Yarra River has always been a spot for people to meet and socialise, attitudes towards what was and was not acceptable changed. In the early 1900s, newspapers were filled with people writing in asking police to crack down on couples kissing on the river banks. To learn le about these stories sto and more, visit the Victoria V Police Museum at the World Trade Centre, 637 Flinders Street, Docklands. Yarra- Morgues, Murder M and Mayhem opens op late August and will run for 12 months. For more information contact policemuseum-mgr@police.vic.gov. au or phone 9247 5214.
EXHIBITION OPENING .01 Shipping on the Yarra in past decades has contributed to the river’s pollution. .02 A Water Police button that will be on show at the exhibition. .03 A modern Yarra River view.
Victoria Police Museum Items relating to Victoria Police’s history can be seen at the Victoria Police Museum, corner of Flinders and Spencer streets, Melbourne. Opening hours are from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Entry is free. For more information, telephone 9247 5214.