Colorized Mugshots of Australia's Most Notorious Female Criminals of the 1920s

The early 20th century saw some of Australia’s most notorious female criminals, and their mugshots are a window into their lives. These incredible colorized images provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the faces of women who lived on the wrong side of the law.

These mugshots were taken in the 1910s and 1920s, a time when police were first starting to use photography as a tool for identification. The process of taking these mugshots was simple – the criminals would stand against a plain background, facing the camera, and the picture would be taken. However, these images reveal much more than just a simple mugshot.

The colorized images showcase the women in their full glory, highlighting their distinctive features, clothing and expressions. They give us a glimpse into these women’s lives, some of whom were imprisoned for crimes such as robbery, prostitution, and theft.

These images are not just fascinating historical documents, but they are also important artifacts of social and cultural history. They showcase the diversity of the female criminal population in Australia at the time and give us a glimpse into the lives of women who lived on the fringes of society.

#1 Alice Cooke at the Sydney Women’s Reformatory in 1922.

By the time she was 24 Alice Cooke had created an impressive number of aliases and at least two husbands, and was convicted of bigamy and theft.

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#2 Barbara Turner, 10 October 1921, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Con woman Barbara Taylor Turner was known as one of the greatest swindlers of the early 20th century, conning thousands of pounds out of local solicitors using six aliases.

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#3 Valerie Lowe, 15 February 1922, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Valerie Lowe was arrested in 1921 for breaking into an army warehouse and stealing boots and overcoats which were worth 29 pounds 3 shillings.

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#4 Mrs Osbourne, location and details unknown, around 1919.

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#5 Matilda Devine, 27 May 1925, had 79 convictions for prostitution related offences including indecent language and offensive behaviour.

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#6 Ellen Kreigher, who had just been arrested and charged with murder, 13 July 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

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#7 Alice Fisher, 23 May 1919, State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, NSW.

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#8 Thief Muriel Goldsmith, criminal record number, 231LB, 29 October 1915. State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, NSW.

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#9 Vera Crichton at the Sydney Women’s Reformatory in 1924. Was arrested after being caught conspiring to procure a miscarriage.

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#10 Daphne Barker, 26 April 1923, probably at the Central Police Station, Sydney. Details unknown.

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