Permanent gallery
The museum reopened on 25 September 2023, with key exhibits on display from Victoria Police’s historically significant collection.
Visitors can experience a completely new space, exploring carefully curated displays on various themes from major investigations to historical and modern policing.
The space is designed to be an engaging visitor experience that includes interactive displays to touch and explore.
People, Plans & Places
Our latest exhibition showcases part of the museum’s collection of architectural drawings of police buildings.
These drawings from the Public Works Department capture historic civic buildings built between the 1860s to the 1940s, from regional towns to the city centre. It includes plans for one of the earliest police stations built for Victoria Police and the floorplans of the state heritage listed Russell Street Police Headquarters.
Our collection highlights the stories of police officers and their families who lived and worked in these buildings.
The image below shows Chief Commissioner Duncan and his Secretary, inspecting the construction site of the Russell Street Police Headquarters in 1941.
Police Animals
Our exhibition Police Animals showcases the history and ongoing use of police and emergency service animals.
Police Animals features stories and objects from our collection, including items belonging to the iconic 1960s and 70s drum horse Gendarme. The exhibition also includes never-before displayed objects on loan from specialist squads within Victoria Police.
This family-friendly exhibition includes interactives for kids of all ages.
Past exhibitions and events
With exhibitions ranging from Victoria's gold-rush era through to the rapid social changes of the swinging '60s, the museum's past exhibitions have memorialised much of our cultural development.
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