Australian Dress Register

Norwin Bauer was the son of W.J. Bauer and Priscilla Bauer nee Fry. His father was born in Germany in 1867 and passed away age 56 due to a timber factory incident. His mother lived until 91 years born in Gladstone in 1877. Additional family information can be found in the births, deaths and marriages section. 

Norwin Bauer was born in October 1905 in Swanfels near Warwick. When he entered the police force in 1929 he was 23 years old. Although single when entering the police force he later married, was widowed and re-married with a total of three children. Twin daughters born in 1934 (Norma and Noela) with his first wife, Kathleen Brennan, who passed away in 1935. He later married Ethel Bate and had one daughter, Eunice. Bauer himself was one of ten children.

Nowin William Bauer entered the Police Depot in Brisbane on the 29 October 1928 as a probationary to commence his training. He was sworn in as a Constable on the 3 May1929 and assigned to the Depot Stables as a mounted officer and also took part in demonstrations of horsemanship in the Brisbane Exhibition that year. He was transferred to St. George, Roma Street Station, Bulimba and Southport Police Station where he performed town beat or mounted duties, traffic or plainclothes Bicycle Squad patrols. In Southport he opened a Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) in1936 and served there till May 1938, when he was assigned as a Detective Constable at the Brisbane CIB till 1953. During this time he received a number of Favourable Records and Commendations for outstanding work in relation to cases worked on while in the CIB.

On the 4 July 1953 he was appointed to the rank of Sub-Inspector and served at Roma Street (Brisbane), Townsville and Fortitude Valley (Brisbane). He was promoted to Inspector on 16 May 1957 and served in the Cloncurry Police District, the Licensing Branch in Brisbane and then was in charge of the Brisbane CIB.

Bauer was appointed Chief Inspector on 1 September 1963 and served in the Commissioner's Office. On the 19 October 1965 he was promoted to Commissioner's Inspector, until his appointment as Commissioner of Police on 14 February 1969. In January 1966 he was awarded the Queen's Police medal for Distinguished Service, in recognition of his outstanding service and devotion to duty in Police service and particularly in the fields of Criminal Investigation and Administrative work.                

In 1970 Bauer was sent by the Government to study police training in locations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, England, New York, Chicago, Fiji, Paris, Amsterdam and Los Angeles. On his return he recommended some changes to up-grade the Queensland Police Force.

Norwin Bauer retired on 27 October 1970.

In the wider Queensland community Bauer was a very active member in the Freemasonry society being the only person in Queensland to hold Supreme rank in all four Freemasonry orders. He was also involved with the Royal Geographical Society and the Red Cross.

In 1966 and and through the next decade, Brisbane and other Queensland cities provided the setting for street demonstrations. These reflected an international phenomenon which focused on a variey of issues including the Vietnam War and conscription. It was a time where freedom of expression was demanded and protesters would not be silenced. They marched without permits, or if they had a permit they deviated from the set routes, sat in the streets and obstructed traffic. In an interview with the Press the newly sworn Police Commissioner, Mr. Bauer, denied that police had used violence in handling student demonstators. The press also asked whether the Premier or Commissioner Bauer would be running the police force. Bauer replied that he felt they would work closely with each other, as the Premier was also the Minister in charge of Police. An example of the Premier's intervention was the issue of how radar traps were conducted. In January 1969 just prior to Norwin Bauer being sworn in as Police Commissioner, the Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen ordered that the location of radar traps be advertised and police cars marked instead of the previous covert practice.                                                                                                              

Queensland Police records and 'The Long Blue Line' by W. Ross Johnston. 

There is some ribbon and braiding especially on the hat and some decoration on the pants. The only decorative aspect of the jacket is the two velvet patches that each have a silver bullion thread leaf motif sewn onto them.

There is a black, leaf and acorn motif embossed ribbon on the pants running from the side pocket to the bottom of the garment. The same patterned black ribbon also runs just above the brim of the hat around the entire circumference.

The hat has two black braids knotted together sitting above the brim and running half the circumference of the hat. There is a silver braid on the brim of the cap.

Judging by the time period of this uniform it is most likely a natural fibre/synthetic and not natural dye. The tunic is made from navy blue wool with a cotton fabric lining the inside. The internal lining is black on the body of the tunic and cream inside the sleeves. The only other fabric used on the tunic has been the lighter blue velvet for the gorget patches. The pants are made from navy serge material with a similar cream coloured lining to the sleeves on the jacket. The tie is 100% pure black silk. The hat is made from a navy blue wool (Navy Venetian) with a stronger synthetic black brim/peak trimmed with silver bullion thread. 

The main body of the jacket has been machine sewn with a light yellow or cream thread. The stitches are uniform in size and length. There is some evidnece of hand sewing on the lining of the jacket with uneven stitches. This could have been for the purpose of repair as some of the stitches are diagnoally overlapping each other. The pants are almost entirely machine sewn with the same yellow or cream thread. The only evidence of hand stitching is the twelve black buttons have been hand sewn onto the pants. The tie and hat are both completely machine sewn.

Tie:

Rothwells Brisbane

Argee Cravda 

Guaranteed

All Pure Silk

Hat: 

MOUNTCASTLE PTY LTD

High Grade Hat, Cap and Helmet

Manufacturers and Retailers

119 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane 

NAME................

ADRS...............

SIZE....7 1/8.....

There is no evidence of alterations on any part of the uniform just minimal evidence of repairs on the internal lining of the jacket.

All parts have been cut straight.

The jacket has four medium sized Queensland Police Force silver buttons to fasten the opening. There are two smaller identical buttons used to fasten the two top pockets. On the pants there is a hook and eye at the top opening of the fly and six black buttons. There are no fastenings on either the tie or the hat.

All items are lined with either a black or cream cotton material. There is some stiffening used in the hat around the band to help keep its shape.

All four parts of the uniform combine to create a Police Commissioner's Uniform issued to Norwin Bauer in 1969-1970. The uniform was mostly worn on ceremonial occasions.

The photograph of Commissioner Bauer taken on February 14, 1969 shows a gorget patch with a Queensland Police oval badge. This tunic replaced an old style closed-neck tunic that was phased out. The photographs we are highlighting in this entry are of Commissioner Bauer in a slightly new style tunic. The gorget patches on the new uniform - most likely available from early 1970, perhaps January - has the oak and leaf style silver buillons.

You will note that the tunic and trousers in this entry are different in colour. The trousers were probably a match for the tunic that Commissioner Bauer wore when he was sworn in on February 14, 1969. In 1970 preparations were under way in the Queensland Police to transition back to blue uniforms in 1971 and away from Khaki that the non-commissioned officers (Constables) had been wearing. It is probable the the blue fabric of uniforms for commissioned officers such as the Police Commissioner and Inspectors were updated at this time.

Overall the tunic is in good condition. There is some evidence of fraying down the front of the tunic on the side of the opening with button holes. There is some discolouration of the tunic to indicate wear. The holes, possibly from moths, are on the left sleeve (half way down and the cuff), above the left pockets and on the lining from the waist down on both the left and right sides. There is only evidence of wear with the pants and hat. Inside the hat especially are perspiration marks. The tie is in excellent condition.

There is evidence of repairs on the inside lining of the jacket.

There are tiny holes on the jacket and pants that may have been made by moths.