Category:Old Lidcombe Police Station

English: Lidcombe Police Station is a historical police station situated on the corner of John and Mary Streets in Lidcombe, New South Wales. Though no longer used by the NSW Police Force, it has local historical and aesthetic significance arising from the evidence it provides the early twentieth century development of the town centre and local administrative/justice system. The building is prominently sited on John Street within Lidcombe town centre, being the third such premises constructed by the Police. It is aesthetically significant as a good and relatively intact example of a 'Federation Bungalow' style Station with its own internal 'lock-up'.

The first Police Constable of Lidcombe occupied rented premises quite close to the Rookwood Cemetery in 1881. Apparently, at this time, owing to the distance to the prison, many prisoners were temporarily housed under the old signal box at the Railway Station. A station was erected at the corner of John and Board Streets, before being moved to Mark Street. There was only one small detached cell to accommodate prisoners. Soon the staff had increased to four and then twelve. In 1928 the Police Department erected the present Station, with a 'lock up' of its own at the corner of John and Mary Streets.

The Police Station is an attractive, one storey, brick public building with a tiled roof. There is a verandah to the John Street facade, with brick piers supporting paired timber posts. There is a simple timber valance to the verandah, with exposed timber rafters projecting. Glass french doors open onto the verandah, with timber framed windows on either side. The main entrance is to the side of the building with a small projecting gable and rendered sign on the lintel reading 'Police Station'.

The building to the east is linked to the main building through what appears to have been be a small holding cell and yard, which have been partially demolished. A low brick wall exists around the perimeter of the site. The roof over the building appears to have been replaced. A freestanding sign on a post had been introduced to the foreground of the site, but is now gone. An airconditioning unit has been installed to the window adjacent to the entrance.

Sources

• This description incorporates the description from the NSW Heritage Listing 1030026 which is licensed under CC-BY-SA.