Having spent most of my years in the Scientific Section and also a career as a ballistic expert I was involved with overseeing the issue of firearms and firearms training of police especially in the 60s. 

Before 1960 only plain clothes police were issued with firearms. These being from a stock of confiscated weapons, .32 cal Browning and Colt pistols being the most common. No holsters proved and I used to give a brief training session on Police HQ range. There does not appear to be any firearms training given to probationaries in the 50s. 

In 1960 QPF bought surplus .38 cal Smith and Wesson 6 chamber 6" barrel M & P revolvers from the Australian Army. They were know as the "10 bob canons". These were distributed to police stations throughout the state with 20 rounds of ammunition and no holsters. The larger the stations received the most firearms. Uniform officer could draw these and take them on patrol. 

Firearms training for recruits was conducted at Ashgrove pistol range with these weapons in 60s. The academy took over this training in 1972.

In the 70s the members received  individual issue of .38 Spl cal Model 36 5 chamber Smith and Wesson revolvers. 3" barrel to uniform police and 2" barrel to plain clothes with hip holsters made by Qld Prisons. 

There was also an issue of .38spl 6 chamber Ruger revolvers after the Smith and Wesson were withdrawn from issue.

Fast forward to 1996 when Project Lighthouse was formed by D C Bill Aldrich in which I was appointed project manager to review all aspects of police accoutrements and training. A team of many expert police from different fields met regularly with the final report being approved and multi million dollars  being allocated to purchase Glock pistols, extendable batons and restraint handcuffs and training packages.