Larrikins

The larrikins of Redan were famous for their bad behaviour and vandalism.

1881
In May 1881 there were complaints about the behavior of young men in Redan: "REDAN LARRIKINS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER. SIR,—It is with regret that I trouble you once more. There an supposed to be two policemen stationed at Redan, and if they were on the look-out for blackguards, let them only walk down Redan and try and put a stop to the nuisance in that neighborhood. On Monday evening I, in company with two more young ladies on our way homeward, were passing under the verandah of the Prince of Wales' store, at the corner of which was assembled a crowd of larrikins. They would not less us pass on the footpath. We had therefore to take the road. The larrikins then started throwing stones after us, and thus struck me some severe blows. Just as one of my companions was looking round to see if a cab was coming, she was struck on the right cheek just below the eye, causing a nasty gash about two inches in length. She was terribly frightened, and had to go back to Ballarat to get the wound stitched up. This sort of thing is carried on continually, Sundays as well as week days. If some of the police force were to journey to that place, I know for a certainty that the above nuisance could be remedied. Having occasion to pass the above spot daily, one can easily see the state of affairs, but when you come to Sebastopol you think you are in heaven to what it was when you were up at Redan. In Sebastopol, if you are passing through the streets the young men take off their hats as you pass. This is very creditable to the young Sebastopolians, and they deserve to be complimented on their good manners.—Yours, &c., A FEMALE SUBSCRIBER."

"POLICE PROTECTION AT REDAN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER. SIR,—I have of late perused in the columns of your valuable journal the inadequate police protection, and I quite agree with your correspondents as to the great necessity for having a few more policemen quartered here, but from what I have been able to glean on the subject from those who know something about the wire-pulling of the department, I have discovered that our local officer is so peculiarly constituted that none of his comrades can get in with him, particularly when he occupies the position of boss. Hence the reduction in our police protection at Redan. I think it is a monstrous state of affairs that, through the squabbles of policemen amongst themselves the interests of the public should be neglected. Surely, Mr Editor, the police authorities must have some remedy to oppress internal quarrels amongst these men; and if they have a remedy and fail to use it, then the public should step in and compel them. Trusting some abler pen may take this matter up—I am, &c., SUFFERER."

A letter to the Courier in June 1881 refuted the allegations of larrikinism, and suggested a more sinister motive for the complaints: "ROWDYISM AT REDAN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER. SIR,—I have seen a number of letters in The Courier about larrikinism at Redan and neighborhood. Now, I have lived here for nearly twenty-five years, and I am sure if there was anything of the sort going on there more than any ether part of Ballarat I would know of it. But a quieter place and better behaved young men, as a rule, I never met. The letters you have received seem to have but one object—viz., to injure the character of the local policeman—one of the most active and efficient we ever had, and a thorough gentleman. It is generally believed that these letters are all written by one person.—Yours, &c., WATHCHMAN."

1885
In December 1885, a letter to the Ballarat Star complained of the larrikins who were found along the length of Skipton Street, from the city to Sebastopol, with the worst in Redan: "LARRIKINISM. TO THE EDITOR. SIR, —For the past 12 months I have observed mobs of most criminal-looking larrikins nightly congregated at various places in Skipton street. Some time ago I observed a crowd of about 20 roughs marching in procession from the corner of Dana street to Dawson street along Skipton street, singing the most filthy songs possible. There is always a crowd of larrikins at the corner of Doveton street and Skipton street, who use insulting and immoral expressions to nearly every female that passes by, and there is a mob of larrikin young men all day of a Sunday, and up till 10 o’clock on Sunday nights, congregated by the side of the Western Ocean hotel, who have some low, filthy remark to make as respectable females pass by; and until Sebastopol is reached mobs of larrikins are stationed at certain points, insulting passers-by as they go to and from church. I have never seen these mobs of fellows interfered with by the police; in fact, the police are nowhere to be seen. Hundreds of times I have walked from Dawson street to Sebastopol at about 10 o’clock at night, and have never met a policeman. I think that plain-clothes police should be told off to put a stop to larrikinism and drink-selling of a Sunday. It is a fact that at any hour of the day or night drink can be obtained at nearly any hotel in Skipton street. There may be exceptions, but I do not know of any. -Yours, &c., EYE-WITNESS."

The Redan Push
In August 1908 a group of larrikins known as the "Redan Push" were accused of desecrating the Rubicon Street Methodist Church: "A CHURCH DESECRATED. BALLARAT, Thursday. The Redan police are investigating a case of sacrilege. The Rubicon-street Methodist Church was entered, and filth was deposited in the pews and seats. The organ was filled with water. It is believed that members of a gang of blackguards known as 'the Redan Push' are responsible for the outrage."