Australia’s past is rich with stories of crime, corruption and blurred moral lines. This course explores true stories of criminals, police and opportunists, examining how law and justice were negotiated in practice rather than theory. Through engaging case studies, we consider how power, survival and circumstance shaped behaviour, and why these stories continue to fascinate. Ideal for anyone interested in true crime, social history and the complexities of justice.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• An overview of law and order in colonial NSW
• Honest crooks: Thomas Barrett; John Harris; George Barrington; Robert Campbell’s nephew; Sudds & Thompson; Fred Ward; Charles Ledger
• Crooked cops: Joseph Luker’s killers; Ann Rumsby; Macarthur vs striker Liverpool; Charles Ormsby; Henry Keck; New Guard; Bill Mackay; Merv Flanagan’s killer; Fred Krahe; Roger Rogerson

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Describe the administration of justice in colonial NSW
2. Recount some stories of the miscarriage of justice in the past
3. Discuss the cultural context of law and order in the past and how it has evolved