Queenstown Police Station

Queenstown Police Station, Phone 034411600 is the largest police station in the Otago Lakes Central Area which is one of three policing areas in the Southern District of the New Zealand Police. The Otago Lakes Central Area headquarters has returned to Queenstown Police Station after a period at Alexandra Police Station. The area of responsibility covered by the Queenstown Police extends from Kingston in the south, to the Crown Range summit in the north, and from Glenorchy and its environs in the west, to the Roaring Meg power station in the Kawarau Gorge in the east.

The police station site has been used since gold was found nearby in Arrowtown and on the banks of the Shotover River in 1862. The adjacent historic Court House was built between 1875 and 1877 after operating out of tents. The police station is at 11 Camp Street, and Queenstown was known as 'the Camp'.

The station opened in November 1862. By March 1863 more than 1000 people lived in the town. The Gold Escort was contracted to Cobb and Co. Near Skippers and along the Shotover, branch escorts transported prisoners who were shackled to posts halfway along. The escort troopers were armed with carbines and swords. The Otago Daily Times reported that robberies were numerous and frequent drunkenness prevalent, with pick pocketing complaints common. Claim jumping and stick-ups were also common. In 1867 there were police stations at Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton, Skipper's, Maori Point, Nevis, Nokomai and Cardrona.

Almost daily practically all the police staff at Queenstown Station travelled to Frankton where the first court sat in McBride Street. The courthouse later became the Presbyterian church.

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