| Keyword Search >> Summary of Search Results >> Search Results >> Agency DetailsHis first employment, as a 16 year old, was as a Postal Clerk and Telegraph Messenger for the Post Master-General's Department, between 1912-1918. He worked at various locations in South Australia including Mount Gambier and Mount Barker before transferring to Sydney and then Darwin. He was living in Darwin during the Darwin Rebellion in 1918.
In 1919 Phil joined the Northern Territory Mounted Police as an officer. From 1919-1921, he served in Darwin and did a considerable amount of 'escort duty' - moving prisoners from Katherine to Darwin. Many of these prisoners had been brought to the railhead by police officers from further out stations.
Early in 1921, he transferred to Timber Creek where he worked as the second officer at the Timber Creek Police Station. In 1923, following a period of leave, Phil returned to work in Darwin from where he performed patrols in various parts of the Top End including Katherine and Newcastle Waters.
He became engaged and married Bertilla Williams during a trip to Quorn, South Australia, and married on 12/05/1928 following which they moved to Newcastle Waters.
In 1919 he was made Officer-in-Charge of the Arltunga Police Station, a move he did not make happily. This resulted in a prolonged correspondence with VG Carrington, Government Resident of Central Australia,
regarding the state of the Police Station and his objections to being stationed there. His objection was, in part, because Bertilla and their young son Brian were left alone whilst Phil went on regular patrols of approximately 5 week duration in the surrounding region regularly. During these absences, Bertilla chose to stay with the Draper's at Bond Springs Station rather than stay alone at Arltunga.
In around 1930, Phil transferred to Barrow Creek Police Station where he stayed until 1932. He was then appointed the second Officer-in-Charge at Alice Springs Police Station under Sergeant Lovegrove. He soon returned to Barrow Creek Police Station taking up the position of full-time Mining Warden. He also spent time at the Tennant Creek mining field.
In 1938, in part due to poor health, Muldoon left the Police force and, with the encouragement of the Northern Territory Administrator Aubrey Abbott, Phil became the Warden and/or Keeper of Her Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison (Alice Springs) - a role that he would continue in until 1960.
Phil retired in 1960 and in 1964 he and Bertilla relocated to Adelaide.
| Date Range | Title | Relationship | Agency Id |
| 1928 - 1979 | Muldoon, Bertilla (nee Williams) | Spouse | 269 |
| Series Id | Series Title | Series Date Range | Number of Units | Public Access | Location |
| NTRS 331 | Typescript of memoirs of PF (Phil) Muldoon including service as police officer, mining warden and prison officer | 1912 - 1960 | 1 | Open | Darwin (NTAC) |