Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Abandoned Observatory of the Pioneer Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
about 15 hours ago
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
1 day ago
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
1 day ago
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Melbourne Victoria Police Museum
AO Edited

Victoria Police Museum

Unusual finds in this shrine to local law enforcement include a 19th-century vampire-slaying kit.

Melbourne, Australia

Added By
James T. Bartlett
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Frederick Deeming death mask   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Frederick Deeming death mask   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
19th century Vampire slaying kit   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
The carcass of the Russell Street car bomb   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Ned Kelly armour   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Victoria Police Museum   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Ned Kelly and his gang are still folk heroes to many Australians, but few know that four Victoria policemen were sent into the bush to track down Kelly and his brother Dan in 1878, and only one of them returned.

The policemen—all of them Irish immigrants, who made up a majority of the force in the early days—are the subject of a large exhibit at the Victoria Police Museum. As a foreign visitor especially, it’s revealing to learn about the modern crimes that shook the state of Victoria, including the Russell Street car bombing in 1986, and the Hoddle Street massacre the following year. 

A gun and a set of the instantly recognizable metal body armor used by Kelly’s gang is here among the expected artifacts like uniforms, badges, weapons, and a vintage police motorcycle, as well as a look at notable acts by past officers and the rise of women in the force.

There are also some unusual finds, like a 19th century vampire slaying kit that was confiscated in a drugs raid in 2004, and the death mask of Frederick Deeming, a notable killer who murdered his wife and four children in his native England, and another wife in Melbourne. Hanged at Melbourne Gaol in 1892, for a long time he was considered to be a candidate for Jack the Ripper, the serial killer who haunted London in 1888.

Back on the streets of Melbourne, large, square concrete bollards are the latest weapon in the fight against terrorism, though locals responded by decorating them with art work, posters, graffiti and designed coverings.

Update as of January 2020: The museum is moving to 313 Spencer Street and will be closed until it re-opens again in early 2021.

Related Tags

Police Museums Museums And Collections Crime

Community Contributors

Added By

jbartlett2000

Published

September 22, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Victoria Police Museum
313 Spencer St
Docklands
Melbourne, 3008
Australia
-37.813753, 144.951035
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cow Up a Tree

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Wunderkammer

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Raising the Rattler Pole

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Melbourne

Melbourne

Australia

Places 54
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Cow Up a Tree

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Wunderkammer

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Raising the Rattler Pole

Melbourne, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Melbourne

Melbourne

Australia

Places 54
Stories 4

Related Stories and Lists

10 Places Where It Seems Like Vampires Are More Than Myth

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Peter the dog.

    Brisbane, Australia

    Queensland Police Museum

    It's home to the taxidermy remains of Peter, the dog who helped convict a murderer.

  • Police uniforms throughout the world.

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Glasgow Police Museum

    This hidden gem reveals the history of Britain's first police force.

  • English Padlock and Leg Irons

    Plymouth, Connecticut

    Lock Museum of America

    Explore the world's largest collection of locks, keys, handcuffs, and ornate hardware, and crack the code on an antique-filled escape room.

  • The Cells

    Manchester, England

    Greater Manchester Police Museum & Archives

    This 19th century police station now puts the history of the Manchester City Police on display.

  • Uniforms and gear.

    Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland Police Museum

    This hidden museum examines the complex history of the country's law enforcement.

  • Patio.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Casa de la Memoria Indómita (House of Indomitable Memory)

    Its exhibits are dedicated to educating the public about state terrorism in Mexico.

  • Royal Malaysian Police Museum

    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Royal Malaysian Police Museum

    This surprising museum tells the story of modern Malaysia through the history of its law enforcement.

  • Pharmaceutical drug paraphernalia.

    Arlington, Virginia

    DEA Museum

    An extensive, if one-sided, history of U.S. law enforcement's war on drugs.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.