Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court |
|
|---|---|
|
RMIT Building 20
|
|
Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court on the corner of La Trobe Street and Russell Street
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Education, former court |
| Architectural style | French Romanesque |
| Address | Corner of La Trobe Street and Russell Street |
| Town or city | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′31″S 144°57′58″E / 37.8087°S 144.9660°E |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Owner | RMIT |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George B.H. Austin |
| Architecture firm | Victorian Public Works Department |
The Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court is a historic building in Melbourne, Australia. It used to be where important court cases were heard for the city. This building is designed in a special style called French Romanesque. You can find it at the corner of La Trobe and Russell streets in the heart of Melbourne city centre.
Contents
History of the Court Building
This building first opened its doors on January 20, 1914. It served as a busy court for 81 years. In 1995, a brand new Magistrates' Court building opened on William Street. After that, this older building found a new purpose.
Did you know that courthouses have been on this very spot since 1843? That's a long time for justice to be served in this area!
The Court Becomes Part of RMIT
In 1997, the Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court became part of the nearby RMIT University. RMIT is a big university in Melbourne. The building is now officially known as RMIT Building 20.
RMIT also took over the Former City Watch-house, which is right next to the court building. Together, these two buildings are now called Building 20. Today, the old court building is used for university lectures. It also has special "moot courts" where students can practice law. Plus, it holds offices for RMIT's leaders. The Watch-house building is now a museum, which is a cool way to learn about its past!
Building Design and Features
The Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court has some interesting features. In the main courtroom, there's a special wooden canopy. This canopy sits over the spot where the Magistrate (the judge) used to sit. This beautiful wooden piece was actually moved from an even older Supreme Court building that was once on this site.
If you look closely at the corner of La Trobe Street and Russell Street, near the old main entrance, you might see something unusual. There are many small marks on the bricks. These marks are from an event that happened a long time ago, showing the building's long history.
Gallery
