Camel mounties: the largest beat on Earth

Patrolling the wild outback on camels, the Finke Police District officers of the Northern Territory, were the far-reaching arm of the law.

[7] Images

Constable Ron Brown about to leave Finke Police Station for his annual camel patrol of the NT, 20 January, 1949. Here , he's shown in sand dune country, typical of his beat. A Northern Territory policeman was Warden of Mines, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Collector of Public Monies, and Inspector of Stock and Protector of Aborigines.

Photo Credit: National Archives of Australia

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Comments 4

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Hermitbiker

18 Jun 2010

.... simply fascinating !! Report
Tony Stokes

30 Jun 2010

Ron was another great early NT policeman. He and my father, Jack Stokes, were in the Police Force at the same time. He sent a copy of his 1990 book "Bush Justice", written with Pat Studdy-Clift, to my father (one of many people aclknowledged in the book) which is valued still. His inscription to Dad was "It is in our memory that we honour our ancestors". Marvelous words and so true. Report
Dr. Tony Kelly

21 Dec 2010

As Constable Tony Kelly I took over the Finke District from Ron Brown. I carried out the last of the Camel Patrols, the story of which is on my Report
Dr. Tony Kelly

21 Dec 2010

Correction. The title of the paper to select is "Early Days and Camel Patrols" Report