A gallery in progress
Historic Australian courthouses reflect a diversity of places, history and heritage of the buildings used for the administration of justice. Some continue to be used as a courthouse but many are not. Others no longer exist. Alternative uses for courthouse buildings sold into private hands include private dwellings – especially those originally attached to police stations, museums, galleries, restaurants, community use, visitor’s centres, bed and breakfast establishment, and even a church.
Many New South Wales country courthouses were originally used as Courts of Petty Sessions. Courts of Petty Sessions were abolished and Local Courts were established in 1985.
“….in future these buildings are not to be used for entertainments or meetings of any kind, but reserved for the administration of justice..”1 NSW Government, 1880.
Dates given are an indication of when a courthouse was constructed. This is as far as can be ascertained from available records. As communities and needs grew courthouse facilities often went through a series of add-ons and refurbishments. Click on the links in the table below to view images by state/territory.
WillsHub, BHS Legal acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the lands on which these early courthouses stand.
| New South Wales | Queensland |
| Victoria | Northern Territory: the historic Darwin Courthouse |
| South Australia | Tasmania |
| Western Australia |
New South Wales
B Stead last updated June 2023
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which these Courthouses sit and pay respects to elders past, present and future.