Historic Australian Courthouses for the administration of justice

Historic Australian Courthouses – 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.

“….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

The dates given are an indication of when a courthouse was constructed as far as can be ascertained. As communities and needs grew, courthouse facilities often went through a series of add-ons and refurbishments.

New South Wales

Former Bowral Courthouse, old Bowral Courthouse, Bowral Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Bowral, NSW

Richmond Courthouse, NSW, Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Richmond 1878, NSW

Blayney Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial courthouses, courthouse, early Australian courthouses, — Blayney 1882, NSW

Bathurst Courthouse, Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, James Barnet — Bathurst 1878, NSW

Hartley Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, — Hartley 1859, NSW

Lithgow Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses — Lithgow 1879, NSW

Orange Courthouse, Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Orange 1883, NSW

Coopernook Courthouse and Police Station, old Australian Courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Coopernook, NSW

Albury Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, historical Australian courthouses — Albury 1860, NSW

Coraki, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, — Coraki, NSW

old Buladelah Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Buladelah, NSW

Balmain Courthouse, old Australian Courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Balmain 1888, NSW

Carcoar Courthouse NSW, historic Australian Courthouses,Australian colonial courthouses, early Australian courthouses, — Carcoar 1859, NSW

Lismore Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Lismore, NSW

Kempsey Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Kempsey, NSW

Murrurundi Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian courthouses — Murrurundi, NSW

Berry Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Berry (former), 1892 NSW

Armidale Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian Courthouses — Armidale Courthouse 1858, NSW

Picton Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, colonial courthouses, old Australian courthouses, — Picton 1865, NSW

Berrima Courthouse, Berrima, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, — Berrima, NSW

Glebe Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Glebe, 1889, NSW

Raymond Terrace Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, historical Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Raymond Terrace, NSW

Kew Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, — Kew, NSW

Nowra Courthouse, Nowra, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Nowra, NSW

Tenterfield Courthouse, Tenterfield, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Tenterfield 1885, NSW

Ballina Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Ballina NSW

Holbrook Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Holbrook — Holbrook, NSW

Gundagai Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Gundagai 1859, NSW

Goulburn Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, James Barnet — Goulburn 1832, NSW

Crookwell Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Crookwell 1891, NSW

Newtown Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses — Newtown 1885, NSW

Manly Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Manly, NSW

Supreme Court of Victoria, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Supreme Court of Victoria

North Sydney Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, historical Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal heritage — North Sydney 1886, NSW

Casino Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, historical Australian courthouses, — Casino c1882, NSW

Katoomba Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courtouses — Katoomba 1895, NSW

Water Police Court, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Water Police 1885, Sydney

Scone Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Scone 1937, NSW

Glen Innes, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Glen Innes, NSW

Boorowa Courthouse (former), NSW, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, James Barnet — Boorowa, NSW

Murrumburrah Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Murrumburrah 1880, NSW

Bungendore Courthouse NSW, old Australian courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Bungendore, NSW

Corowa Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, historic Australian Courthouses,early Australian Courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history — Corowa 1886-7, NSW

Paddington Courthouse, old Australian Courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Paddington 1888, Sydney

Kiama Courthouse NSW, early Australian courthouses, old Australian Courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Kiama 1892, NSW

old Australian courthouses, Uralla Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses — Uralla 1885, NSW

Cootamundra Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Cootamundra, NSW

Gundaroo Courthouse (former), NSW, Gundaroo, early Australian courthouses, old Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian Legal history — Gundaroo, NSW

Young Courthouse, NSW, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Young, NSW

Jerilderie Courthouse (former) - New South Wales — Jerilderie, NSW

Junee Courthouse, NSW, Early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Junee, NSW

Tumbarumba Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses, Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, — Tumbarumba, NSW

early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Young courthouse (former), James Barnet — Young, NSW

Gunning Courthouse (former), old Gunning Courthouse, Australian courthouses, old Australian courthosues, Colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, — Gunning 1879, NSW

Yass Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, — Yass, NSW

Deniliquin Courthouse, New South Wales — Deniliquin 1883-4, NSW

Dubbo Courthouse NSW, Dubbo, early Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, old Australian courthouses, — Dubbo Courthouse 1890, NSW

Bangalow Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Bangalow, NSW

Binalong Courthouse, Binalong, Australian legal history, early australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses — Binalong 1883, NSW

Narrandera Courthouse, New South Wales — Narrandera NSW

old Narromine Courthouse (former), New South Wales, timber building, Narromine museum, — Narromine (former) NSW

Nyngan Courthouse, New South Wales — Nyngan, NSW

Parkes Courthouse, New South Wales, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Parkes 1875, NSW

Camden Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, old courthouses, Camden, — Camden 1855, NSW

Peak Hill Courthouse, New South Wales — Peak Hill, NSW

Silverton Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Silverton (former), NSW

Tibooburra Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Tibooburra (former), NSW

Milparinka Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Milparinka (former), NSW

Trangie Courthouse, New South Wales — Trangie, NSW

Wentworth Courthouse, New South Wales — Wentworth, NSW

Wilcannia Courthouse, New South Wales — Wilcannia, NSW

Hay Courthouse, New South Wales — Hay 1892, NSW

Euston Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Euston (former), NSW

Cobar Courthouse, New South Wales — Cobar, NSW

Broken Hill Courthouse, New South Wales — Broken Hill, NSW

Singleton Courthouse, New South Wales — Singleton, NSW

Stroud Courthouse (former), New South Wales, Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Stroud, NSW

Rylstone Courthouse, New South Wales — Rylstone, NSW

Clarence Town Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Clarence Town, NSW

Mudgee Courthouse, New South Wales — Mudgee, NSW

Braidwood Courthouse NSW, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Braidwood — Braidwood, NSW

Morpeth Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Morpeth, NSW

Gloucester Courthouse, New South Wales — Gloucester, NSW

Dungog Courthouse, New South Wales — Dungog, NSW

Gulgong Courthouse, New South Wales — Gulgong, NSW

Kandos Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Kandos, NSW

Cassilis Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Cassilis, NSW

Capertee Courthouse (former), New South Wales — Capertree, NSW

Bega Courthouse 1881, New South Wales — Bega 1881, NSW

Cobargo Police Station (formerly courthouse), NSW — Cobargo (former), NSW

Cooma Courthouse 1887, New South Wales — Cooma, 1887, NSW

Narooma Courthouse, New South Wales — Narooma, 1934, NSW

Moruya Courthouse, New South Wales — Moruya 1881, NSW

Industrial Relations Court of New South Wales, Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, legal history, — Industrial Relations Court NSW

Sydney Central Local Court, Old Police Court sydney, old Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, colonial Australian courthouses, Central Local Court, Court of Petty Sesssions, 98 Liverpool Street Sydney, — Central Sydney Local Court, NSW

Supreme Court of New South Wales, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Australian Courthouses — Supreme Court of New South Wales 1820-28

Newcastle First Courthouse, Sessions House 1822 — Newcastle 1822, NSW

Newcastle Courthouse 1890 NSW — Newcastle 1890, NSW

Branxton Courthouse, New South Wales — Branxton 1880, NSW

Kurri-Kurri Courthouse, New South Wales — Kurri Kurri, NSW

Maitland Courthouse, New South Wales — Maitland 1897, NSW

Paterson Courthouse, New South Wales — Paterson 1858, NSW

Cessnock Courthouse, New South Wales — Cessnock, NSW

Wollombi Courthouse, New South Wales — Wollombi 1866, NSW

Hornsby Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian Courthouses, administration of justice — Hornsby 1925, NSW

Quirindi Courthouse, NSW, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Quirindi 1930, NSW

old Coolah Courthouse, NSW, early Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, — Coolah 1880, NSW

Coonabarabran Courthouse, NSW, early Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Coonabarabran 1860, NSW

Dunedoo Courthouse 1928, NSW, Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Dunedoo 1928, NSW

Gilgandra Courthouse NSW, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, — Gilgandra 1897, NSW

Kogarha Courthouse, New South Wales, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, old Australian courthouses — Kogarah, NSW

Victoria

old Ballarat Courthouse, old Australian Courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Ballarat 1903, VIC

Beechworth Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Beechworth 1858 (former), VIC

Bright Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses — Bright 1861, VIC

Chiltern Courthouse (former), old Australian Courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian Courthouses, — Chiltern 1865, VIC

Rutherglen Courthouse (former), Rutherglen Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Rutherglen 1864, VIC

Yackandandah Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, historical Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Yackandandah 1864, VIC

Milawa Courthouse (former), old Australian Courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, Australian Legal history, — Milawa 1880, VIC

Newstead Courthouse (former) 1863, Victoria, colonial Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Newstead, 1863, VIC

Dunolly Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Dunolly 1858, VIC

Clunes Police courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Clunes 1872, VIC

Gisbourne Courthouse 1858, Victoria, Australian legal history, early Australian courthouses, Colonial Australian courthouses — Gisbourne 1858, VIC

Creswick Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, — Creswick, VIC

Daylesford Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian courthouses — Daylesford 1863, VIC

Bendigo Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Bendigo, VIC

Steiglitz Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, Colonial Australian Courthouses, Australian legal history — Steiglitz, VIC

Castlemaine Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Castlemaine 1878, VIC

Buninyong Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian courthouses — Buninyong 1886, VIC

former Woodend Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Woodend 1870, VIC

former Geelong Supreme Court, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, old Australian courthouses — Geelong 1860-1937, VIC

former Ballarat Supreme Court, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Ballarat, VIC

former Sunbury Courthouse, Victoria, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian courthouses, — Sunbury 1855, VIC

Maryborough Courthouse, Victoria, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Colonial Australian Courthouses — Maryborough 1882, VIC

Tallangatta Courthouse (former), old Australian Courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, — Tallangatta, VIC

South Australia

Morphett Vale, Old courthouses, early courthouses, Morphett Vale Courthouse, Australian Courthouses — Morphett Vale 1855 SA

Strathalbyn Courthouse — Strathalbyn c1860, SA

Auburn Courthouse, Auburn Courthouse and Police Station.old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Auburn 1860, SA

Willunga Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Willunga 1855, SA

South Australia, Goolwa Courthouse and Police Station, — Goolwa SA

Port Adelaide Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, old courthouses, courthouses — Port Adelaide 1882, SA

Salisbury Courthouse (former), South Australia — Salisbury SA

old Port Augusta courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Port Augusta (former), SA

Old Kapunda Courthouse, historic Australian Courthouses,South Australia, Australian legal history, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, — Kapunda, 1866-68, SA

early Australian Courthouses, Victor Harbor Courthouse and Police Station, old Australian courthouses, — Victor Harbor SA

Fowlers Bay, South Australia, old courthouse Fowlers Bay, historic Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Fowlers Bay, 1912, SA

old Clarendon Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses — Clarendon (former) 1868, SA

Mt Barker Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Mt Barker, SA

old Gawler Courthouse, old Australian courthouses, early Australian Courthouses — Gawler Courthouse (former), SA

Clare Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Clare 1878, SA

Balaklava Courthouse, South Australia, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Balaklava 1913, SA

Western Australia

Perth Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, Courthouses — First Courthouse, Perth 1836, WA

District Court facade, Perth WA, Australian courthouses — District Court Facade, Perth, WA

old Esperance Courthouse, Western Australia, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, Esperance — Esperance 1898, WA

old Bunbury Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Bunbury 1907, WA

Old Guildford Courthouse, Western Australia, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouse, Australian legal history — Guildford 1866, WA

Old Darwin Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian Courthouses, old Australian Courthouses — Darwin 1884, NT

Old Fremantle Courthouse, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australian legal history, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, — Fremantle WA

Old Midland Courthouse, Western Australia, old Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, — Midland 1907, WA

Northam Courthouse, early Australian courthouses, Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses — Northam 1896, WA

Queensland

Port Douglas Courthouse, early Australian Courthouses, old Australian Courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses — Port Douglas 1879, QLD

old Australian courthouses, Australian Courthouses, historic Australian Courthouses, Australian Courthouse heritage, Australian legal history — Atherton 1941, QLD

Cairns Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, Courthouse — Cairns 1919, QLD

Former Cleveland Police Station & Courthouse, Queensland, historic Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, legal history — Cleveland 1934, QLD

historic Cleveland Courthouse, Queensland, old Queensland courthouse, colonial Australian courthouses, legal history, — Cleveland 1853, QLD

Tasmania

Hobart Supreme Court, 1824, Tasmania — Hobart (former), TAS

Bicheno Courthouse, former, gaol house, Tasmania, early Australian courthouses, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Bicheno, TAS

former Latrobe Courthouse, Tasmania, old Australian courthouses, Australian legal history — Latrobe, TAS

Former Evandale Courthouse, Tasmania, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, old Australian courthouses, — Evandale, TAS

Scottsdale Courthouse (former) Tasmania, early Australian courthouses, Australian legal history, — Scottsdale (former) 1881, TAS

old Campbell Town Courthouse, Tasmania, early Australian Courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, legal history — Campbell Town, TAS

old Fingal Courthouse, Tasmania, Australian courthouses, early Australian courthouses, colonial Australian courthouses, — Fingal, TAS

Northern Territory

Old Darwin Courthouse, Australian Courthouses, early Australian Courthouses, Colonial Australian Courthouses, old Australian Courthouses

Historic Darwin Courthouse, 1884.

A list of short articles on selected courthouses can be browsed here.

A list of early courthouses in Queensland noted for their architectural significance and their history can be found on the Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Heritage Centre here. The colony of Queensland was established separately from New South Wales in 1859, and the colony of Victoria in 1851.

1. Government circular forwarded throughout the Colony of New South Wales, Queanbeyan Age, 30 Oct 1880, p. 2.

Historic Australian Courthouses

Historic Australian Courthouses – a gallery in progress

New South Wales

Victoria

South Australia

Western Australia

Queensland

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