WORTH PAINTING: HMCSS Victoria enjoyed a colourful history. Photo: Courtesy of E.S. Marsden

FLAGS FLYING: HMCSS Victoria was the first Victorian warship and also acted as a Water Police vessel. Photo: Courtesy of the Navy History Unit

Volume 49, No. 15, August 24 , 2006

The first Water Police of Port Phillip began performing customs and harbour duties in 1838, but their role changed with the arrival of the first Victorian warship, HMCSS Victoria.
In the 1850s, the inhabitants of the colony had agitated for their protection by British warships.

On the arrival of HMCSS Victoria in Port Phillip Bay in 1856, an opportunity presented itself to extend the increased role of the Water Police then berthed on the Guardship - an overcrowded dismasted barque.
The control of the Victoria was passed to the Victoria Police, the Chief Commissioner of Police nominally in command.
Her crew were sworn in under the 1853 Police Act and given both a police rank and a naval rank.
Conversely, the Water Police who joined the Victoria became able seamen.

Commander Norman was given the rank of Superintendent of Police, in addition to his command of the Victoria and responsibility for the Water Police on the former Guardship, now referred to as the Blockship.
The Water Police on Victoria sailed in a ship of war with fittings of mahogany and birds eye maple - a ship of luxury suitable for conveying the Governor of Victoria around the colony.
The Victoria started life with dubious legal status, as she had not been registered in England.

To preserve discipline the crew that brought her out from London had been signed on under the Merchant Marine Act.
This lack of legal status bedevilled Commander Norman when applying the law.

On pursuing the Ebba Brahe to ensure claims on the vessel were paid, the owners subsequently took action against the Commander and the Chief Officers of the Victoria for the sum of £800, for the loss sustained by the Ebba Brahe’s illegal detention.

Commander Norman’s status was again challenged when arresting the General Nowell, which had left the colony without payment of claims and assaulting police officers.

It was later claimed that, as Norman held no commission as commander of a ship of war, the General Nowell could not be arrested and therefore had been taken on the high seas by an act of piracy.
When convicts incarcerated in prison hulks attacked and murdered the Superintendent of Penal Establishments, John Price, on the beach at Williamstown, Commander Norman and the Water Police were among the first on the scene to restore order.
The Victoria was removed from police command in 1860 and the British government was left to solve her legality.
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