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Collection of the AFP Museum

AFP Museum Donations Unique stories

Our collection

The AFP Museum houses an extensive collection of more than 20,000 items from the earliest days of the Commonwealth Police Force to present day. The collection reflects the history of the AFP as it has evolved, including as the Peace Officer Guard, ACT Police, Commonwealth Police (COMPOL) and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.

Our collection includes:

  • Objects, including evidence and items, from national and international operations, local policing equipment, Disaster Victim Identification and forensic material, seized objects, profiling and criminal processing equipment and investigative technology.
  • Vehicles and technology relating to the service of the AFP and its predecessors in community policing, peacekeeping, rescue, recovery, and investigations.
  • Records and documents relating to federal policing from 1917 to present day.
  • Photography, film, and audio recordings of federal policing operations, training, investigations and documentation from 1917 to present day.

The collection here on our website showcases a variety of items that relate to some of our unique stories. We will continue to add to the collection over time.

 

2002 Bali bombings

Coupon recovered from ‘Paddy's Pub’, by an AFP investigator following the 2002 bombings in the Kuta tourist district of Bali (AFPM11455)
Broken pottery recovered from the Sari Club, by an AFP investigator following the 2002 bombings in the Kuta tourist district of Bali (AFPM7260)
Bundy Clock recovered from the Sari Club by an AFP investigator following the 2002 bombings in the Kuta tourist district of Bali, showing damage from the explosion (AFPM2111)
Aerial photograph of aftermath of Bali Bombing, 2002 (AFPM13703)
Bali street, following a Bombing attack on 12 October 2002 AFPM11489

 

Canines

1983: Senior Constable Garry Baker with the AFP’s first canine, Kaiser (AFPM9287)
Lake Burley Griffin ACT - Water Police Red Heeler, 'Dusty', guards the section equipment with great enthusiasm when the crew is absent (AFPM5404)
Commonwealth Police Dog Squad AFPM7261
Sergeant Clive Alcock, member of the ACT based Dog Training Squad, Peace Officer Guard holding the leash of a German Shepherd. Circa 1950 (AFPM6112)
Jill, a German Shepherd working with the Peace Officer Guard. Circa 1950 (AFPM61117)
Wolf, a Labrador working with the Police Officer guard. Circa 1950 (AFPM6119)
Officer with canine in training 1993 Photographer: Branko Ivanovic, Photography Unit, Forensics (AFPM522)

 

Disaster Victim Identification

Painted room number sign from the Sofitel Magic Lagoon hotel, Khao Lak, Thailand (AFPM9936)
Painted panel from the foyer of the Sofitel Magic Lagoon hotel, Khao Lak, Thailand (AFPM2113)
AFP Officer meets with SES personnel and Victorian resident as part of their deployment following the ‘Black Saturday’ Bushfires of 7 February 2009 (AFPM12890)
Sworn members of the ACT Policing Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, Specialist Response Group and Protective Service Officers searching the flight MH17 crash zone for evidence (AFPM10558)

 

Global peacekeeping

Blue woven fabric padded vest with front pocket and large white label that reads 'POLICE' in large black block letters (AFPM8869)
Rectangular brown, yellow and black painted bamboo riot shield (AFPM2109)
Mine warning sign from Cambodia (AFPM2101)
This fabric election banner is reminding residents about the importance of voting for the future of Mozambique. The Portuguese text on the banner translates to 'National Commission of Elections in your vote and future of Mozambique' (AFPM2103)
In Cambodia in 1992 and 1993, 20 Australian police peacekeepers lived in Thmar Puok village and helped build the capacity and capability of Cambodian police. The Australians also took it on themselves to donate educational materials and toys to local school children.
Australian police peacekeepers handing out lollies at a community engagement event in Cambodia, in 1992. Cambodians had few luxuries and struggled for food in a war-ravaged environment.
United Nations missions use aircraft for mobility and transport purposes. Here an Australian police peacekeeper and a colleague are standing near a Super Puma UN helicopter, in East Timor in 2000

 

Search and Rescue

Rescuers carried 46 kilos of dive gear and air tanks on their backs (AFPM11888)
Large illuminated 'balloons' were tethered to the landslide site to provide continuous lighting during the rescue operation at Thredbo 1997 (AFPM5371)

 

Women in policing

Members of the Defence Establishment Guard circa 1940, including 9 women seated in the front row (AFP MRN 12934)
Joan Coleman, Mary Bird, Carol Francis and Gail McManus wearing the first ACT policewomen’s uniform, both summer and winter dress on 19 September 1968 AFPMRN12699
Circa 1957 - Senior Constable Alice Clarke, the first ACT Policewoman, flanked by Constable Joan Coleman (standing left), Constable Robyn Davidson (standing right) and Sergeant Gladys Johnson (seated right) AFPMRN368
Peace Officer Guard 1945 - Photograph of an oil on canvas painting of a female wearing a uniform and hat sitting at a desk in a room – Artist Sybil Craig AFP MRN 10961 Source: Australian War Memorial
A large contingent of Commonwealth Police Officers served in Darwin following Cyclone Tracy in December 1974. They wore these all-white dresses, with black shoes and black hats. The Commonwealth Police uniform had evolved from the original Police Officer Guard uniform (AFPMRN1859)
All ACT policewomen were issued with new uniforms by 1972. Worn here by Sue Beatty (Dawson) and Louise Lammin (Baer) at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra (AFPMRN1679)
The khaki women’s recruit dress (circa 1972) – worn until recruits received ‘blues’ for graduation day AFPMRN5551
Leonie June Kavanagh in the winter uniform in 1974 – hat, gloves and handbag at the ready (AFPMRN5728)
Sergeant Louise Denley in 1989, standing next to her police motorcycle – black boots, white gloves, riding jodhpurs (AFPMRN441)
The ‘impractical’ summer uniform - a tunic and skirt. Polyester - machine washable, light iron. Worn by Constable Charmaine Quade in 1987 (AFPMRN9302)
The policewomen’s uniform in 1987 worn by Isabel Jirasek - with hat, blouse, tie, culottes, pocket badge, belt and shoes (AFPMRN431)
The ACT Policing and AFP summer policewomen’s uniform and the ‘infamous’ handbag. Worn here by Gail Calderwood with Peter Lindsay (AFPMRN422)
Policewomen march at the Women and Policing Globally Conference in October 2002 (AFP MRN 11808)
Amanda Graham wearing the leather jacket in 1998 at a community event in Canberra (AFPMRN982)
An AFP officer (in slacks) preparing to give evidence in the ACT Magistrates Court in 2001 (AFPMRN445)
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