The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
Early police force established by Governor Phillip in 1789 to patrol the town of Sydney during the night in order to prevent and detect 'the commission of nightly depredations'. It consisted of twelve of the 'best behaved' former convicts, with the town divided into four regions. In 1796 the watch, or 'civil police', was reorganised by Governor Hunter so that constables in each region became answerable to a local magistrate. The number of regions was also increased and extended to include the Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Toongabbie.