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.
The former Beechworth Courthouse was built in 1852 and ceased operating as a courthouse in 1989. Local history records that Ned Kelly, his mother and other bushrangers appeared in the courtroom of the Beechworth Courthouse.
The Magna Carta, sealed under oath by King John at Runnymede, England in 1215, became part of English law, and subsequently adopted into Australian law.
The sandstone courthouse building of the Murrurundi Courthouse, New South Wales was constructed in 1840. With the increase in bushrangers in the area it was initially intended to be a temporary arrangement so as to have a place from which to administer justice.
Forgery of a will was of great concern for the ancients. Emperor Nero established the technique of will piercing, tying with ribbon and adding stelae.
Inheritance and intergenerational transfer of property has concerned families and civilisations for centuries. Inheritance laws of the ancient city of Gortyn (Gortys), Crete were inscribed on stone in a public place in the fifth century. The Law Code of Gortyn is a written set of rules prescribing who inherits, among other private matters, so as to keep property in the male side of family.
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’.
“The Romans were also wont to set aside testaments as being inofficiosa, deficient in natural duty, if they disinherited or totally passed by (without assigning a true and sufficient reason) any of the children of the testator.”
Courthouses in Australia reflect a diverse heritage of built form to meet colonial needs for the administration of justice.