National Police Memorial

In 2001, it was resolved to establish a National Police Memorial in Canberra.

The Memorial pays tribute to Australian Police Officers who have been killed on duty or have died as a result of their duties since the advent of policing in Australia and to recognise the unique nature of police service and the dangers that police face in their daily pursuits.
The $2.4million memorial was jointly funded by the Australian Government (through the Australian Federal Police), State and Territory Police Services and Police Federation of Australia.

The Memorial was completed and dedicated on 29 September 2006 (National Police Remembrance Day). Following the dedication ceremony, a criteria for future inclusion of names on the National Police Memorial was agreed upon together with a National Police Memorial Co-ordination Committee.

On this day

Constable

Arthur Roy CURRIE

YEAR OF DEATH

01 October 1926

JURISDICTION

Victoria

DETAILS OF DEATH

About 3.15 a.m. Friday 1 October 1926 Constable Currie was performing duty as the Wireless Operator in the No. 2 Patrol Car. The driver accidentally ran into a tramway excavation outside the Alfred Hospital in Commercial Road Prahran and the car overturned. The crew had been responding to a call that some men had been acting suspiciously in Malthouse Lane Melbourne. As a result of the accident Currie received severe head injuries and was admitted to the Alfred Hospital where he died at 7 a.m. the same day. The Coroner later criticised the inadequate manner in which the roadworks had been barricaded.

On this day

Constable

David Edward McGRATH

YEAR OF DEATH

01 October 1915

JURISDICTION

Victoria

DETAILS OF DEATH

In the early hours of Tuesday 1 October 1915 Constable McGrath and other police went to the Trades Hall in Lygon Street Carlton in answer to a report that a burglary was in progress. The policemen entered the building and found that an attempt had been made to open a safe. McGrath then confronted two offenders in a passage-way one of whom fired a number of shots which fatally wounded the Constable. The offender John Jackson was later arrested at the scene after further shots had been fired. Jackson was convicted of McGrath’s murder and was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He was the last person in Victoria to be executed for the murder of a policeman.

Complete Honour Roll

Affiliated events

Remembering mates – Wall to Wall Ride is held in September each year.

Click here for more information.

National Police Remembrance Day is an annually recognised on 29th September.

Please note for 2026, services will be held on Tuesday 29 September.

Check with your State/Territory police organisation for local information of services to be held, or click here for more information.