Murrumburrah Courthouse (former) 1880, NSW
colonial Australian Courthouses
Orange Courthouse 1883, Orange, Central Tablelands, New South Wales
The current Orange Courthouse building was designed by the Colonial Government Architect James Barnet. Construction was completed in 1883. Previous buildings existed on the site, the first being erected in 1847, around the time of the town’s settlement, and operated as a Court of Petty Sessions, being the usual arrangements in those times. Orange was proclaimed a municipality in 1860, the first meeting being held in the Courthouse, located on the same site as today, but a different structure.
Historic Darwin Courthouse & Police Station 1884, Northern Territory
The old Darwin Courthouse was constructed in 1884 of stone and other material from local sources. Following Cyclone Tracy it underwent extensive restoration and now used for administration.
Port Adelaide Courthouse 1882 (former), South Australia
The old Port Adelaide Courthouse constructed in 1882 lies adjacent to the earlier Port Adelaide Police Station built in 1861. Inquests into deaths, often due to drownings following heavy drinking at local pubs, were held. These were inquests by juries in those times before the local police magistrate.
Strathalbyn Courthouse 1867, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
In 1858 a police station and lockup was constructed in Strathalbyn, a rapidly developing rural region south of Adelaide. A Courthouse soon followed, built of local stone.
Armidale Courthouse 1858, Armidale, Northern Tablelands, New England, NSW
The Armidale Courthouse and Sherriffs Office at 143-145 Beardy Street, Armidale, in the Northern Tablelands was an operating Local Court of New South Wales until January 2014. The first courthouse was constructed in 1844 with a more substantial building erected in 1858, in the Classical Revival style.
Berry Courthouse (former) 1892, Berry, NSW
The former Courthouse in Berry was designed by the colonial government architect James Barnet in the Greek Revival Style. No longer operating as a courthouse the building has been restored and is admirably surrounded by beautiful lush, formal gardens. The website of the Berry Courthouse Conservation Committee contains information on the history of Berry Courthouse, the building and its restoration.
Norwood Courthouse 1937, SA
The Norwood Courthouse 1937 in Norwood, Adelaide was one of the few police courthouse buildings built during the interwar period. It was reported at the time as being the ‘most commanding building outside the City’.
Old Australian Courthouses – a diverse heritage
Courthouses in Australia reflect a diverse heritage of built form to meet colonial needs for the administration of justice.
Holbrook Courthouse (former) 1873, NSW
In 1872 the Courthouse at Holbrook, once known as Germanton, housed a very small courtroom, described as an “apology”. Despite the cramped conditions, many matters were dealt within it.
Port Augusta Courthouse 1884, SA
Although a magistrate resided in Port Augusta 1856, it was over ten years before a proper courthouse building was constructed.
Gundagai Courthouse, c1861, Gundagai, New South Wales
Gundagai is a country town on the Murrumbidgee River in southern NSW. Famous for its statue of a dog sitting on a tuckerbox, immortalised in a song, Gundagai has a long history of settlement. The Gundagai Courthouse occupies an elevated position above the main street, affording it a commanding view over the township and the surrounding picturesque river valley.
Willunga Courthouse (former), 1855, South Australia
When the local magistrate felt that it was no longer possible to maintain the required order and decorum for a court of justice in the local Bush Inn, the drive was on for a purpose built courthouse.
Auburn Courthouse 1860, South Australia
The Auburn Courthouse in Auburn in the mid-north of South Australia was constructed in 1860 of local bluestone. Auburn was an important stop-over point at the time from the mining areas around Burra to the north and the coastal port on St Vincent’s Gulf.