From the Archives A Piece of our Past MOUNTED BRANCH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS. EDITORIAL NICOLA STUDD
HISTORICAL HOME .01 The Mounted Branch celebrates 100 years at their facility in South Melbourne.
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WINTER 2012 POLICELIFE
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orses have always been an integral part of Victoria’s law enforcement. This year, Victoria Police’s Mounted Branch will be celebrating 100 years at its stables in South Melbourne. One hundred years ago, when the motor car was in its early stages of development, Victoria Police’s Mounted Branches were booming with 211 mounted stations operating across Victoria. Horses were necessary for policing duties in rural and city areas and there was a strong need to establish a headquarters for the Mounted Branch. Victoria’s first policing stables and Mounted Branch headquarters began construction in 1912, costing £14,000 to complete. During an 18-year period, the South Melbourne site became home not only to one of the largest stable buildings in metropolitan Melbourne, but also to other policing facilities including barracks, workshops, a drill hall and a hospital.
One hundred years on the Victorian College of the Arts has taken over most of the facilities, but the Mounted Branch still use the site. To celebrate the milestone, the Mounted Branch’s Senior Sergeant Claire Shaw is encouraging people to come along to the historic site during its Open House Event on 28 and 29 July. “We want everyone to come down and see how we operate and support frontline policing at our purpose-built facility,” Sen Sgt Shaw said. The site presently contains an indoor riding school, stables, office area and saddlery that are used by members and their horses. While the Mounted Branch’s facilities have not changed much, its operational functions certainly have. Since the introduction of the motor car to Victorian roads, the horses were no longer needed for general transport. “Nowadays, the Mounted Branch is used to provide all areas of Victoria Police with operational mounted support,” Sen Sgt Shaw said. “Horses and riders complete intensive public order training to ensure they are ready to protect and serve the community.” For crowd control training, horses are tested with randomly lit flares, smoke, loud noises and mock protestors to ensure they stay calm in the most thunderous and volatile crowds. The Mounted Branch also helps with high police visibility dedicating more than 90 per cent of its time to operational patrols across the state.
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.