Historical information

"Sgt. David McPhie and some of his family/at Suffolk Road Mounted Police Station./Stables are shown in background./Courtesy - Mrs. P. Scales (nee McPhie)."
The police established a station at 5 Suffolk Road in 1889. The first policeman was Constable Patrick Healey soon after assisted by Sgt Wilson.
Constable David McPhie (1887-1963) was married to Jessica Beatrice McErvale (1891-1962) in 1914. They had a son - Angus (1916-1971) and a daughter Jean Cameron (1918-1985); she was born in Surrey Hills.
In 1919 electoral rolls David McPhie is listed as a policeman at 5 Suffolk Road. Police gazettes list him as discharged on 2/11/1923. The family continue to live at 5 Suffolk Road and thereafter he is listed as a labourer.
Entry in 'Surrey Hills In Celebration of the Centennial 1883-1983' states there was a mounted troopers' station at 5 Suffolk Road from 1889-1914. It was later at 5 Essex Road and then in 1923 moved to 171 Union Road (later the doctor's surgery and residence) and then to 93 Union Road where it stayed until 1947.
It is not known how the donor was related to David McPhie.

Physical description

Image of a man, identified as Sgt. David McPhie, with five female members of his family, standing in front of the stables of the Mounted Police Station at 5 Suffolk Road, Surrey Hills.