Six years after Phillip Island was settled in 1868, the first police station opened at Cowes, which was then part of the Bourke district.
The date was January 29 1874, and the police strength at the time was one First Constable.
At the time the nearest police stations to Cowes were at Hastings, 15 miles north across Westernport bay, and Bass, 17 miles to the east across the eastern passage.
The police station phone number was 37, which it still ends in today.
The population of Phillip Island at the time was 1000 and the local wharf manager earned 10 pound per annum.
The state school had opened two years previously in 1872.
One of its early pupils, John Smith, in recollections he penned in 1950 for inclusion in JW Gliddon’s “Phillip Island in Picture and Story” recalled James Deacon as Phillip Island’s first policeman and George Ardill as the second.
John Smith described both officers as mounted men.
Early records show James Deacon was in fact the island’s first policeman, and that he was replaced after four years by George Ardill in 1878.
The first police court in the area was established at Griffiths Point (now San Remo)
It opened on March 3 1877 with early settlers Solomon West JP and David Reid JP presiding on the bench.
An extract from the Government Gazette, dated 1878, states: “The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has appointed Constables Harold Henry Taylor and George Ardill to be the officers to carry out that portion of The Passengers, Harbours and Navigation Statute, relating to the management of public wharves at Griffiths Point and Cowes respectively, with Constables Ardill and Deacon removed.
The notification was signed by Peter Lalor, Commissioner of Trade and Custom, on October 10 1878.
(This was in fact the same Peter Lalor, who as an Irish-Australian rebel, rose to fame for the leading role he played in the Eureka Stockade Rebellion. Peter Lalor went on to become famous as well for being the only outlaw to make it into parliament. He was appointed Commissioner Trade and Customs in 1875)
John Brophy – Trooper First Constable 2642, followed George Ardill and was stationed in Cowes in 1884.
He was followed by the aforementioned Constable Harold Taylor in 1888.
Mounted Constable Alfred Thornton, who came to Cowes in 1889 and was later at Grantville, married Alice Lock, daughter of Captain John Lock of Rhyll, at St Philips, Cowes in 1891.
Sadly their eldest son Raymond Thornton, born on the island, was killed at Gallipoli in 1915.
Alfred Thornton was followed by Constable Richard George Edward in 1897 and Constable Thomas Dunn in 1899, who arrived in time for the turn of a new century.
Phillip Island in Picture and Story records that the Catholic priest of that time, Father Parker, who was based at Dalyston but also travelled to the island to celebrate mass, did so at the home of Police Constable Dunn from 1899 until 1909.
More modern times
Being a policeman on Phillip Island in the 1920s and 1930s involved coping with an influx of thousands of visitors who came by ferry for the Grand Prix races, which were held on the island’s roads.
There were no protective barriers for the public, who all just stood along the roadside.
There were no public toilets provided, and many farmers had their fences wrecked by visitors and sometimes even had to stand in a queue to use their own toilets!
In 1952 the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club opened up a new circuit on private land adjacent to the south coast.
It went into decline in the 60’s until bought by Len Lukey who resurrected the circuit. Major reconstruction work was undertaken on the track resulting in the Phillip Island Circuit now being recognised as one of the best motor racing facilities in the world.
MOTO GP riders often cite it as their favourite track due to the backdrop and the circuit itself which lends itself to quick times and close races.
The Cowes Police Station remained a single member station until 1971. This changed with the appointment of a Sergeant in Charge - Sergeant Cliff ASHE 13257.
Sergeant ASHE joined Senior Constable Ernie LEE 9935 - who had been the single member in charge for the period 1971-1982.
From 1982 onwards as the population on Phillip Island and surrounds grew, policing services also expanded to meet demands.
The close proximity of Phillip Island to Melbourne and the improved roads and facilities saw tourist numbers swell to their current rate which is estimated at 80-100,000 over the summer holiday period.
Additional resources were provided to support local members during the busy holiday periods and during events such as the MOTO GP, V8 Supercars and Superbikes.
As recently as the year 2000 the permanent police presence at Cowes was one sergeant and four other ranks.
The nearby San Remo Police Station had similar staff numbers and both stations worked closely together to provide effective policing services and keep the various communities safe.
Policing today
The Cowes Police Station is now a part of Eastern Region – Division 5 - with the Divisional Headquarters located at Morwell.
Cowes is located within the Bass Coast Police Service Area in alignment with Local Government area boundaries.
With the increased demand on policing services police at Cowes and San Remo now work as part of a PSA roster which allows for a more efficient use of all police resources within the Bass Coast PSA.
Aside from major events and holiday policing both Cowes and San Remo work additional night shifts to assist the permanent night shift van working from Wonthaggi.
All Bass Coast Police Service area units assist with this model and this includes the seven stations in South Gippsland and various support units such as:
* Highway Patrol
* Crime Investigation
* Family violence; and
* Crime Scene Services
The current staffing levels at the Cowes Police Station consist of:
A Senior Sergeant: Bass Coast Cluster: Oversight of Cowes and San Remo Police Station. Oversight of Major Events and Emergency Management:
A Sergeant: Officer in Charge
Nine other ranks.
