Underworld

Explore the dark side of the Roaring Twenties, a seedy underworld where the only rules were never squeal to the police and always, always shoot first

Barbara Turner Taylor, Special photograph number 570, 10 October 1921, probably Central Police Station, Sydney
Underworld

Barbara Turner Taylor: Plotter

Described by police as the cleverest magswoman and confidence trickster in New South Wales, Barbara Turner Taylor was a master in manipulation

Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties exhibition installation view
Underworld

Behind The Scenes: Underworld Exhibition Design

Join Kieran Larkin Senior 3D Designer, as he takes us behind the scenes of the design of our Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties exhibition

Underworld

Behind the scenes: How to read a ‘special’

Around the world, police forces followed established conventions when taking mugshots. But Sydney police in the 1920s did things differently

Underworld

Behind the scenes: The Underworld Book

Join Bruce Smythe Senior Project Designer, as he takes us behind the scenes of the design of our 'Underworld: mugshots from the Roaring Twenties' publication

Gold painted plaster bust of William John Mackay, Commissioner of Police
Underworld

Big Bill MacKay

William John MacKay (1885–1948), known as Bill, was a Scottish-born police officer who played a major role in policing Sydney’s underworld during the 1920s

Black and white image from the 1920s of a man who looks to be in his 50s.
Underworld

Bosses

Sydney’s underworld bosses were tough, resolute and violent – mess with one and you would know you had been in a fight

Black and white photo of a blonde man in a suit with scruffy hair. He is smirking.
Underworld

Bruisers

The brawn of Sydney’s underworld, bruisers had a penchant for senseless violence

Original glass plate negatives from the NSW Police Forensic Photography Archive arranged on a lightbox.
Underworld

Captured on glass

It’s almost 100 years since New South Wales police used glass-plate negatives to photograph suspects in custody. These negatives are a direct link to that moment in time, and provide evidence about photographic technology and methods in the 1920s

William John Mackay, NSW Police Commissioner
Underworld

Central Police Station – a policeman’s critique

Most of the Special photographs were taken in the yards at Sydney’s Central Police Station, located in the central business district next to the Central court complex