Community braves rain for official opening of Wagin Historical Village Police Station

The Wagin Historical Village officially opened its newest addition the old Wagin Police Station on a wet and windy June 5 morning. At about 10.30 retired police officer Dave Lampard gave a brief talk about the early days of the station which was first opened in 1893 under the command of officer-in-charge Constable William John Nicholls. In attendance at the opening were Wagin police OIC Sgt Simon Bickers and Katanning OIC Acting Insp. Sgt Carlos Correia. The original station was built in Wagin Lake as the town was then known in response to a letter sent by Frederick Henry Piesse to the commissioner of police on September 16, 1892. “Wagin GSR and its surrounding district sadly need protection,” Mr Piesse wrote. “Something should be done at once by your department to meet this necessity otherwise serious results will follow.” The station opened the following year on Upland Street Photos, vintage equipment and a uniform donated by former Wagin police officer Tony Mott are on display at the historic recreation which also houses a sparsely furnished cell.