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The Native Police

The Native Police Corps was established in what is now known as the Police Paddocks in the southern part of Rowville. An initial attempt to set up the Corps under the command of Captain De Villiers was unsuccessful but in 1842 Superintendent Latrobe decided to try again and appointed Captain Henry Dana to lead the Corps. Dana was a very good leader and under his command the aboriginal troopers earned praise for their bearing, good discipline and effectiveness. From their headquarters in Rowville the Corps ranged all over the colony carrying out their duties.


  • ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE POLICE PADDOCKS

    On the evening of 18th March 1851 a shocking incident occurred at the head quarters of the Native Police Corps at Narre Narre Warren (now known as the Police Paddocks) which ruined the careers of two young officers and commenced a chain of events that ultimately led to the destruction of the corps.

    At the centre of the drama were William Walsh and William Dana, the second and third officers in command of the corps.

    The following report of the trial was published in The Chronicles of Early Melbourne.

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  • Attempted Murder in the Police Paddocks

    On the evening of 14th January 1851 a shocking incident occurred at the headquarters of the Native Police Corps at Narre Narre Warren (now known as the Police Paddocks) which ruined the careers of two young officers and commenced a chain of events that ultimately led to the destruction of the corps.
    At the centre of the drama were William Walsh and William Dana, the second and third officers in command of the corps.
    The following report of the trial was published in The Chronicles of Early Melbourne.

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  • LOCAL LEGEND DEBUNKED
    Local legend has long held that the tall pine tree situated on the site of the Native Police Depot in the Police Paddocks had been planted by Lady Jane Franklin. Lady Franklin was the wife of Sir John Franklin who... comments Comments (0) Read more...




  • THE NATIVE POLICE CORPS IN ROWVILLE

    This month's local history article is an abridged extract from 'Good Men and True: The Aboriginal Police of the Port Phillip District 1837-1853' by Marie Hansen Fels. Dr Fels’ book is recognised as the most authoritative study of the Native Police Corps whose headquarters were established at 'Nerre Nerre Warren' - an area that is now known as the Police Paddocks in Rowville. A copy of Dr Fels' book is available at Rowville Library. This extract is published with the kind permission of Dr Fels.
    Bryan Power

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  • The Native Police Cemetary

    Much has been written about the Native Police Force which was stationed at Rowville in the Police Paddocks between 1838 and 1852 but little seems to be known about the nearby cemetery where many troopers and other natives were buried. The true location of the cemetery is still not known beyond dispute.

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  • WILLIAM DANA

    In the May 2004 edition of the R-LC News I published a story under the title Attempted Murder in the Police Paddocks. The story recounted the shooting of William Dana by a brother officer, William Walsh, and raised questions about the good character (or otherwise) of Dana.
    The following extracts from The Chronicles of Early Melbourne recall two episodes that occurred when William Dana was aged 19 and 20 respectively. Dana was 25 when shot by Walsh and 30 when he married his brother’s widow Sophia, the alleged key person in the shooting incident. (Attempted Murder in the Police Paddocks is also published in the three volume set, Rowville and Lysterfield Stories, that is available at the Rowville Library.)
    Bryan Power

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