Roaring 20s
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
Underworld
Fallen soldiers
After the universal upheaval of World War I, many soldiers found it difficult to take up their former occupations and adjust to civilian life
Underworld
Flappers
The flapper was an alluring vision of sophistication and freedom for young women globally
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Gangs
The lure of easy money from the illicit alcohol, drug and gambling trades encouraged the formation of new crime gangs
Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell
In the 1920s, female motorists were a rarity, but this didn’t stop friends Jean and Kathleen from setting off on four-wheeled adventures across Australia and the world
Police
Sydney’s police force had lost many men on the battlefields of France during World War I and it took some time to rebuild. With resources stretched, police struggled to maintain law and order in an environment where criminal behaviour was evolving.
Police photographer George Howard
George B Howard was a prominent police photographer in Sydney during the 1920s
Underworld
The Black Hand in Sydney
Restrictions on the sale of alcohol offered tantalising opportunities for organised crime groups around the world