161 years after he was shot through the heart and killed while chasing an armed robber, Senior Constable Edward Barnett has been awarded the Victoria Police Star at a ceremony in Carisbrook.

But while the 29-year-old Irish migrant died in the regional Victoria town almost half a century before Federation, the man responsible for rediscovering Barnett's sacrifice said he did it for a simple reason.

"Just to show that he mattered," said Leading Senior Constable Chris Trimble.

"There's no family that we can find that continue to live his memory on, so it's up to us, as his colleagues, to make his memory live on."

Barnett was murdered on February 1, 1858, by William Brook after a botched armed robbery at the Gumtree Hotel in which the restaurateur was also killed.

Brook suffered stab wounds during the attempted robbery and died in police custody a day later.

Reminder of fallen colleague

Leading Senior Constable Chris Trimble researched the story of Edward Barnett, aiming to bring more light the fallen officer's impact on Carisbrook. ( ABC Ballarat: Dominic Cansdale )

For Leading Senior Constable Trimble, Barnett's death is a solemn reminder of another colleague who was murdered 33 years ago.

"I've lived through that, with colleague and squad-mate Senior Constable [Maurice] Moore in 1986, dying after being shot in Maryborough," Leading Senior Constable Trimble said.

"That took a fair bit of time to get over and I guess this touched my heart a little bit because this is very similar."

The Victoria Police Star has been posthumously awarded to Senior Constable Edward Barnett. ( ABC Ballarat: Dominic Cansdale )

Leading Senior Constable Trimble had only become aware of Edward Barnett in 1991 and both he and his partner Tania began researching the story behind the death.

He said he was shocked to learn that an officer had died so close to where he lives.

"Then when I find out I've been driving through the scene for 37 years I was pretty horrified … there's just no acknowledgement of it," he said.

From the 'Wild West' of the gold rush to modern policing

More than 50 people, including students from Carisbrook Primary School, attended the ceremony honouring Senior Constable Barnett.

But many more locals expressed outrage in the days after his death.

Around 1,500 miners assembled and rioted to protest the rising crime rate in the goldfields, which had come to be known unofficially as the 'Wild West' due to the weekly cases of murder, theft and robbery.

The rededication of Senior Constable Edward Barnett's grave was attended by more than 20 police officers from the Ballarat area and beyond. ( ABC Ballarat: Dominic Cansdale )

"[Policing] in Victoria and in particular Carisbrook, Maryborough and indeed the entire goldfields of Victoria, was vastly different in 1858 than what you see here in 2019," said Local Area Commander Inspector Dan Davidson.

"If Edward Barnett was serving today in general duties he would have undertaken 33 weeks of intensive training, he would be wearing a ballistically capable operational vest, he would be driving a late model vehicle fitted out specifically for operational duties."

'Overwhelming' response to fallen officer to continue

Ralph Staverly of the Police Historical Society said while it may "seem like a lifetime" to the primary school students who attended the ceremony, in 40 years, Carisbrook will remember the 200th anniversary of Barnett's death.

Students from Carisbrook Primary School attended the rededication of Senior Constable Edward Barnett's grave. ( ABC Ballarat: Dominic Cansdale )

"We hope it never happens, we pray it never happens, but the chance of accidental death or murder of police members is a risk that's accepted by every member, every time they go out on duty," Mr Staverly said

"That particular issue won't have changed one bit — that level of service over 200 years will still be alive and well."

Originally planned as a small-scale affair, Barnett's framed medal has been displayed at the Maryborough Police Station after the rededication ceremony.

Leading Senior Constable Trimble said he was "just gonna bang a nail in the wall at the station … and head off down for a pint.

"That was gonna be the end of it … and to have turn out like this, well it's overwhelming."