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Fake Police Station Sparks Calls for a Permanent Police Presence in Boulder - Boulder, WA
Smart summary
A temporary police station created as a film set in Boulder appeared to calm activity on Burt Street, prompting locals to renew calls for a permanent 24-hour police presence.
Residents and business owners in Boulder, Western Australia, are calling for the return of a permanent police presence after a fictional police station was temporarily created in the town for the filming of a crime thriller.
Boulder's heritage-listed old courthouse was transformed into a fake police station while the Stan television series Two Birds was being filmed in the Goldfields. The temporary set remained in place for three days, giving local residents and businesses an unusual opportunity to see how the street looked with visible police signage and a police station nearby.
According to local business owners interviewed by ABC, activity on Burt Street changed noticeably while the film set was operating. They said crime and disruptive behaviour appeared to decrease during those three days, although the police station was only a television set and no actual police service operated from the building.
After the filming equipment and signage were removed, some locals renewed their campaign for a permanent police presence. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for a 24-hour shopfront police station on Burt Street. The petition had 1,171 signatures when it was tabled in Western Australia's Parliament on September 10.
Business owners have described concerns about theft, verbal abuse and incidents involving customers and workers. One local hospitality worker was allegedly threatened with a hammer after attempting to stop the theft of cash and alcohol. A nearby business owner also described a previous incident in which a knife was allegedly pulled on him.
The concerns extend beyond individual incidents. Local business operators say they have seen visitor numbers decline and believe regular police foot patrols could make people feel safer while visiting shops and businesses along the historic main street.
Western Australia Police has pointed out that Boulder is already covered by officers from Kalgoorlie Police Station, which is about five kilometres away. Police say officers respond to calls across Kalgoorlie-Boulder around the clock and regularly patrol Boulder. Police also said staffing and resources are continually assessed according to operational demand and community safety needs.
Official police data cited in the report recorded 1,742 offences in Boulder during 2025, compared with 1,515 in 2024. During the first six months of 2026, 1,141 offences had already been recorded.
Boulder and neighbouring Kalgoorlie developed separately before becoming part of the same local government area in 1989, but the communities continue to retain distinct identities. Burt Street remains an important historic and commercial area.
The temporary television police station has now disappeared, but the debate it generated remains. Local residents and business owners are continuing to discuss whether a permanent police post or increased foot patrols could improve safety and confidence in the town centre.
For Boulder, a fictional police station created for television has therefore become the unexpected focus of a real community campaign for greater police visibility.
PoliceStationBoulderBusinessStreet
Residents and business owners in Boulder, Western Australia, are calling for the return of a permanent police presence after a fictional police station was temporarily created in the town for the filming of a crime thriller.
Boulder's heritage-listed old courthouse was transformed into a fake police station while the Stan television series Two Birds was being filmed in the Goldfields. The temporary set remained in place for three days, giving local residents and businesses an unusual opportunity to see how the street looked with visible police signage and a police station nearby.
According to local business owners interviewed by ABC, activity on Burt Street changed noticeably while the film set was operating. They said crime and disruptive behaviour appeared to decrease during those three days, although the police station was only a television set and no actual police service operated from the building.
After the filming equipment and signage were removed, some locals renewed their campaign for a permanent police presence. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for a 24-hour shopfront police station on Burt Street. The petition had 1,171 signatures when it was tabled in Western Australia's Parliament on September 10.
Business owners have described concerns about theft, verbal abuse and incidents involving customers and workers. One local hospitality worker was allegedly threatened with a hammer after attempting to stop the theft of cash and alcohol. A nearby business owner also described a previous incident in which a knife was allegedly pulled on him.
The concerns extend beyond individual incidents. Local business operators say they have seen visitor numbers decline and believe regular police foot patrols could make people feel safer while visiting shops and businesses along the historic main street.
Western Australia Police has pointed out that Boulder is already covered by officers from Kalgoorlie Police Station, which is about five kilometres away. Police say officers respond to calls across Kalgoorlie-Boulder around the clock and regularly patrol Boulder. Police also said staffing and resources are continually assessed according to operational demand and community safety needs.
Official police data cited in the report recorded 1,742 offences in Boulder during 2025, compared with 1,515 in 2024. During the first six months of 2026, 1,141 offences had already been recorded.
Boulder and neighbouring Kalgoorlie developed separately before becoming part of the same local government area in 1989, but the communities continue to retain distinct identities. Burt Street remains an important historic and commercial area.
The temporary television police station has now disappeared, but the debate it generated remains. Local residents and business owners are continuing to discuss whether a permanent police post or increased foot patrols could improve safety and confidence in the town centre.
For Boulder, a fictional police station created for television has therefore become the unexpected focus of a real community campaign for greater police visibility.
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