SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE ACADEMY.
PORT ADELAIDE POLICE DEPOT.
The Port Adelaide Police Depot was established in 1928, as a result of industrial issues at the Port Adelaide wharves. (Hopkins 2005)
Above:- Police troopers at Old Port Depot. Image c/o State Library SA [B 70324]
Above:- Article from The Register News-Pictorial, Fri 15 Feb 1929. Image c/o Trove.
In 1934, Commissioner Raymond Lionel Leane, introduced the recruitment of Junior Constables who were aged 16 to 17 years. These Junior Constables were initially based at the Port Adelaide Police Depot. (Hopkins 2005)
Above: Commissioner Leane. Image c/o WIkipedia.
Qualification as a Junior Constable included that the applicant was medically sound, not colour blind, they were to be male aged from 15 to 18 years, in excess of 5 foot 8 1/2 inches tall, and with intermediate standard of education. (Hopkins 2005)
Above: Item from The Advertiser, Thu 20 Feb 1936. Image c/o Trove.
The Junior Constables remained at Port Adelaide for a period of about 12 months before being transferred to the Thebarton Police Barracks. They remained there until the age of 21 when they graduated and were sworn in as Probationary Constables. The graduation age was later reduced to 20 years of age, and then to 18 years of age. (Hopkins 2005)
The course at the 'school for junior constables' included drill, musketry, physical culture, St John ambulance instruction, life saving and swimming, general education, law, finger print work, debating and oratory, shorthand and typing, a knowledge of the police station books and general duties as an officer of the local court, the issue of licences, and practical physiology and pyschology. (Trove 2025)
Above:- Article from the News, Wed 26 Sep 1934. Image c/o Trove.
Above: Article from the Weekly Times, Melbourne, Sat 27 Jul 1935. Image c/o Trove.
Junior Constable recruitment discontinued in 1953 to 1954. (SA Police Dept)
TRAINING AT THEBARTON POLICE BARRACKS.
The Thebarton Police Barracks (al known as the Southwark Barracks) was officially opened on the 1st day of March 1917. It was initially established as a barracks for mounted and foot police. (SA Police Hist Soc 2020) (Trove 2025)
Following the Second World War, adult recruits were accepted into the South Australia Police Department and they were trained at Thebarton Barracks. (Hopkins 2005)
The training of Junior Constables took place at Thebarton until 1961 when Fort Largs was acquired. (Hopkins 2005)
The training of Junior Constables took place at Thebarton until 1961 when Fort Largs was acquired. (Hopkins 2005)
Sadly, the historic police barracks was bulldozed in 2024, by the South Australian State Labor Government, to make way for a new Womens and Childrens Hospital.
FORT LARGS.
In 1885, Fort Largs was built as a coastal battery instalment which was responsible for the coastal defence of the city of Adelaide.
Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois was a Royal Engineer and was commissioned to evaluate the defence capabilities of the colonies of Australia, excluding Western Australia. He released a report in which he stated that he believed the Russian Empire would attack South Australian shipping. As a result of Jervois' report, Fort Glanville and Fort Largs were constructed. (Wikipedia 2025)
Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois was a Royal Engineer and was commissioned to evaluate the defence capabilities of the colonies of Australia, excluding Western Australia. He released a report in which he stated that he believed the Russian Empire would attack South Australian shipping. As a result of Jervois' report, Fort Glanville and Fort Largs were constructed. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above:- William Jervois. Image c/o Wikipedia.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scratchley was the person mostly responsible for the design of Fort Largs and Fort Glanville. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above:- Lt Col Peter Scratchley. Image c/o Wikipedia.
In 1882, work commenced on Fort Largs, which was first known as the Port Adelaide battery. In 1885 the fort's barracks and rear defence wall was completed. In 1889 Fort Largs was equipped with two 6-inch breech-loading disappearing guns. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above:- Fort Largs, 1890. Image c/o State Library SA, Fort Largs [B 18968]
During 1960, am examination of recruitment and training was conducted. The Commissioner made the decision that the accomodation and facilities at the Thebarton Barracks were inadequate, and the South Australia Police Department purchased the Fort Largs property. (SA Police Dept)
On the 30th day of of November, 1961 the South Australia Police officially took possession of Fort Largs from the military for use as a police training academy. (Facebook 2022)
A 3 year cadet training course was introduced, and this was later reduced to a period of 2 years. (Facebook 2002)
On the 30th day of of November, 1961 the South Australia Police officially took possession of Fort Largs from the military for use as a police training academy. (Facebook 2022)
A 3 year cadet training course was introduced, and this was later reduced to a period of 2 years. (Facebook 2002)
Upon being acquired by the South Australia Police Department, Fort Largs was in a poor state of repair. There was also insufficient accomodation for recruits, with temporary buildings being obtained. This included 20 huts from Radium Hill, with each hut accomodating 2 recruits. (Hopkins 2005)
Further temporary buildings were acquired for use as classrooms. Over successive years, classrooms, dormitary blocks, a swimming pool, gymnasium, and firing range were constructed. (Hopkins 2005)
Further temporary buildings were acquired for use as classrooms. Over successive years, classrooms, dormitary blocks, a swimming pool, gymnasium, and firing range were constructed. (Hopkins 2005)
Over its 50 year life, the Fort Largs Police Academy saw more than 8,000 police cadets graduate through its gates. (Facebook 2022)
An old Police Academy brochure.
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THE FIRST ACADEMY COMMANDANT AT FORT LARGS.
The first Academy Commandant was Chief Superintendent Eric Meldrum who was appointed in 1961. He held that position until his retirement in 1975. (Facebook 2022)
A NEW POLICE ACADEMY.
In February 2012, a new Police Academy training facility was built adjacent to the old Fort Largs Police Academy. The cost of the new academy was $43.5 million. It features a scenario village with a mock bank, service station, bar, and police station; an administration centre; resopurce centre; audiitorium; dining room; and outdoor and indoor training facilities. (BADGE 2020) (Facebook 2022)
FORT LARGS REDEVELOPMENT.
Between 2012 and 2016 a housing development was built on the site. Only the fort, barracks, and drill hall remain.
References.
- BADGE. (2020). Projects - Fort Largs Police Academy - BADGE – Your Partners in Construction. [online] Available at: https://badge.net.au/projects/fort-largs-police-academy/ [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].
- Facebook.com. (2022). South Australian Police Historical Society | Adelaide SA. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/Historical1838. [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025]
- Facebook.com. (2022). South Australia Police. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAustraliaPolice [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].
- Southaustralianpolicehistoricalsociety.com. (2020). Thebarton Police Barracks – South Australian Police Historical Society. [online] Available at: https://southaustralianpolicehistoricalsociety.com/learn/thebarton-police-barracks/ [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].
- Trove. (2025). JUNIOR POLICE - Adelaide School - Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) - 27 Jul 1935. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224400732/23958480 [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].
- Wikipedia Contributors (2025). William Jervois. Wikipedia.