Find out interesting facts and go behind the scenes at the
Victoria Police Museum
Confiscated Weapons Make for a Vicious Display
A new display at the Museum shows an array of frightening weapons confiscated by police during searches and raids. Below is an example of the type of vicious-looking home-made weapons police have seized over the years. Designed to be worn on the arm of an attacker and studded with household screws, this armband has been created to do maximum damage during a fight.
Exhibition Updates
Yarra: Morgues, Murder and Mayhem
Research is currently underway for the Museum's next big temporary exhibition. Focusing on the darker history of the Yarra River the exhibition explores tales of murder, pollution, sin and disaster. Keep an eye on our Tweets and website for updates on unusual facts and figures that have come to light as the exhibition research develops.
The Perfect Place for a Morgue
Melbourne's first morgue was located on the banks of the Yarra River. This was partly influenced by the fact that numerous bodies were retrieved from the river every year. Prior to the 1850s dead bodies were stored in Public Houses. However, with an increasing population as a result of the Gold Rush and inadequate conditions for the storage of bodies, it soon became evident that a dedicated 'house for the dead' should be built.
