Bruthen Police Lock Up and Fettlers Hut Bruthen people pointing at articles on wall

Bruthen Police Lockup & Fettlers Hut

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Bruthen Police Lockup & Fettlers Hut

Located at the east end of Main St in Bruthen, these relics of a bygone era tell the local history of the late 1800s.

The Fettlers Hut and The Police Lockup are open to the public whenever the Bruthen Information Centre is open.

Bruthen Police Lockup Bruthen person standing outside next to sign

Bruthen Police Lockup Bruthen couple looking at articles inside 1

Bruthen Police Lockup and Fettlers Hut Bruthen person walking into building

Bruthen Police Lockup Bruthen couple reading articles on wall

The police lockup

Step inside the original, renovated Police Lockup and read tales of murder, rowdy railway camps, thievery, brawls, gold-digger disputes, encounters with bushrangers and sly-grogging, which kept the local police force busy across the 1800 and 1900s.

Originally built in England, cells of this style were shipped to Australia where they were constructed. This lockup is believed to have been erected in 1877, and last used in 1964. At 9 square metres, quarters were cramped, particularly as there was often more than one occupant at a time.

Bruthen Police Lockup Fettlers Hut Bruthen heritage looking out window

The Fettlers Hut

Fettlers were railway maintenance workers who had the tough job of building tracks and bridges. They were paid a low wage for their hard work, and were often away from their families for weeks at a time.

As the location of work was constantly moving, fettlers huts were designed to be easily transported by railway trucks. This hut would have accommodated fettlers in the early 1900s, keeping shelter close to where the railway lines were being built.