Mugshots

Dual mugshot in black and white; man seated and then man standing, with white naval cap on.
WW1

A dubious defence

On 19 October 1921 Herbert Burridge was listed in the New South Wales Police Gazette as a deserter from HMAS Cerberus

Archives behind the scenes - gaol photos

In this episode we show you the very popular Gaol Photo Description Books. The photos (or mugshots) of prisoners are from gaols right across NSW and date from 1870-1930

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

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

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

Portrait of a man glued to a description sheet

Captain Moonlight, bushranger

One of the more famous gaol photographs in the State Archives Collection is that of A.G. Scott, otherwise known as Captain Moonlight, which was taken on 26 November 1879

Gaol photo of Jim Skidmore

Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930, Jim Skidmore

Jim Skidmore, a 34 year old station hand from Sydney, was photographed at Broken Hill Gaol on 31 May 1927 while serving a sentence of six months hard labour for the illegal use of a motor car