Police

It did not take long for the first police presence to be established at Five Mile, but within 30 years we were all law abiding citizens. The timeline:

• In 1875 a news item states the Administration was investigating the establishment of a police barracks at Highfields (i.e. Five Mile Camp/Cabarlah). 

• In 1876 an article in the DD Gazette stated: “Some time ago the need of a police station at Highfields was urged upon the Government, and it was suggested that Bearkley's Hotel was the most desirable site for such a station. It would appear, however, that, the wishes of the Highfields people have been disregarded, and that Crows Nest has been chosen in preference.

• In 1877 a mention of the erection of a Court House and lock up (John Gaget)[1]. and apparently decided in 1878. The T'Chronicle states that the "instructions had been given for the erection of the police buildings at the Five Mile Camp - not at Geham, the Commissioner of Police having reported that the Five Mile Camp was the proper place of them" (12 Jan 1878).  

• An article in the paper later in 1878 mentions a police Barracks (more like a "hut") at Five Mile Camp which may have been previously Bloom’s hotel/shop.

• Senior const George Hanlon was recorded in the Post Office records as being resident in 1893

• In 1893, £300 was set down from the Dept of Public works to build a Police Station[2].  

• The Court of Petty sessions (Magistrates Court)[3] was established in Cabarlah from 6/8/1895 to 19/4/1901.[4] Records from the Court of Petty Sessions, Highfields were transferred to the Court of Petty Sessions, Cabarlah upon this Court being abolished by gazettal proclamation dated 6 August 1895. 

• Police senior const P. Daley in 1895/6. In 189/7 C.P. sessions was Patrick Daley.

• The Court of Petty Sessions, Cabarlah was abolished by gazettal proclamation dated 19 April 1901.  Toowoomba Chronicle & DD General Advertiser (Tuesday 18 March 1902) recorded a public meeting at the time: The removal of the police station was not without its critics: “a. Voice: “ what about the Cabarlah Police Station?” he was very pleased for that interjection. He was not guilty of taking away the Police Station. At the same time the servants of the government were of opinion that the Cabarlah people did not require it, law abiding as the people were at the place they did not require police protection”. 

• From Department of Lands, forwarding a proclamation relative to a Reserve for police purposes at Cabarlah (4 July 1903)..but not sure what this was. I cannot find any further reference to a permanent police presence in the area until the next century.

• In 1992 there was representation to the Council for a Police Station at Highfields. In 1997, based on the number of "reported incidents, it was not possilbe to provide additional policing for Highfields"

• Because of the growing population of Highfields, the Queensland Police Service had bought a block of land on Highfields Rd in 2009 with the intention of building a police station there. "However, as a result of new flood modelling after the 2011 floods it appeared that in the rare but possible similar rain event, the site could be cut off by road, making that block unsuitable".[6] 

• Highfields Residential Police beat in Merritt St 200?

• New Police Station in Highfields 2020