Sunday February 7 – The Justice and Police Museum

Given that our host Jim Kearney was a criminal barrister, and we had had some discussions about crime in Sydney, I thought it might be interesting to visit The Justice and Police Museum. So Ray and I set off for Sydney CBD via the characterful ferry. Sydney is an amazing city, set on the river estuaries with miles of shoreline and a water life style. Well, that is the side of Sydney we saw. There are many suburbs that do not have the association with the water that Sue and Jim introduced us to.

Sydney from the Woolich Ferry Dock

The Woolich Ferry Dock

The Gutsy Little Ferry

Birchgrove Ferry Dock

The museum building was the Water Police Court in 1856, the Water Police Station in 1858, and the Police  Court in 1886. he museum features a magistrates court, a recreated police charge room and remand cells, a gallery of mug shots of Sydney's early criminals and an array of spine chilling weapons. It also showcases weird and wonderful relics from notorious crimes such as the Shark Arm Murder, the Pyjama Girl Case and the Graeme Thorne Kidnapping, as well as many original objects associated with such legendary bushrangers as Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall, Captain Moonlight and Ned Kelly.

The Justice and Police Museum

After visiting the museum we took a walk through Hyde Park and its famous fig trees. We saw The Archibald Fountain which was a donation to honour Australia’s contribution to the WWI in France. At the opposite end of the park we saw the ANZAC  War Memorial  with its eternally burning flame and the Pool of Reflections. It provided a beautiful and serene moment to reflect on the meaning of war.

We wandered through the city and various buildings and found a little spot in the underground concourses to have lunch, and then headed to Darling Harbour and the Chinese Friendship Garden, which unfortunately was closed. As an alternative we took in the Serbian Festival and watched the dancing and merriment then headed to the bus stop to catch the 506 back to Jim and Sue’s.