I think that style of police box is a bit older, as I saw one in a 1930’s British film. Unless it really was the Tardis.
It’s a darn good thing Curzon Dax wasn’t a regular on TNG before DS9. 😉
the first time we saw Dax and got to learn about the character it was after Dax has switched genders. Also we didn’t get Dax switching hosts 12 times over 50 years and never once switching gender.