Old Court House, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Court House |
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Old Court House, Supreme Court Gardens
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| General information | |
| Type | Court building |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 14 February 2003 |
| Part of | Supreme Court Buildings and Gardens, Old Court House, Stirling Gardens (1947) |
| Reference no. | 1948 |
The Old Court House was the first court building ever built in Perth, Western Australia. It's located between two pretty gardens, Stirling Gardens and Supreme Court Gardens, right next to the main Supreme Court building on Barrack Street. It's a one-story building with cream-colored walls and a wooden shingle roof.
Finished in 1836, it's the oldest public building still standing in Perth! It's also one of only two buildings left that were designed by Henry Reveley, an important engineer from the early days of the colony. The building looks like old Greek temples, a popular style in the 1800s.
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About the Building
The Old Court House stands at the southeast corner of Stirling Gardens in Perth. It's a simple building with a Georgian style, which was popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The building is made of stone rubble covered with a smooth plaster (called stucco) finish. It has a sloping roof (called a hipped roof) that used to be covered with slate tiles. The front porch (called a portico) was added later and has strong, simple columns (doric pillars). The areas to the north and west of the building are paved with sandstone-colored bricks.
History of the Old Court House
In 1836, Governor James Stirling decided Perth needed a court house. In February 1836, Henry Reveley, who was the colony's civil engineer, drew up the plans. Reveley designed many important early buildings in the colony, like the Round House in Fremantle and Government House in Perth.
The Court House was finished in December 1836. It stood very close to the Swan River shoreline back then. The first court meeting was held there on February 2, 1837. The building was officially opened with a church service on March 24, 1837. The Court House was used as a church until St George's Church was built in 1842.
Early Uses
Besides being a court house and a temporary church, the building was also used as a schoolroom. On September 20, 1847, the first Perth Boys' School started in the building. Before other large buildings like the Mechanics Institute and the Town Hall were built, the Court House was the only big building in Perth suitable for public meetings. It was a very important place for the social life of the Swan River Colony.
From 1856 to 1863, the building was sometimes used as a temporary place for new immigrants to stay. After some repairs in 1863, it became a court house again, this time for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court used the building until September 1879, when they moved to a new place nearby.
Later Uses and Renovations
From July 29, 1905, until 1965, the building was used by the Arbitration Court, which handled disagreements. Small changes were made to the building in 1921.
On October 14, 1966, after more renovations, including a new shingled roof, the Law Society of Western Australia started using the building as their main office. In 1974, a Law Museum was opened inside. In 1985, the Law Society moved, and the building was changed inside to look like the Arbitration Court did in 1905. In 1987, the Francis Burt Legal Education Centre was set up there.
During the 1965 renovations, a carved wooden coat of arms was found. It was almost thrown away because it was covered in paint and plaster! This coat of arms was the original one ordered by Chief Justice Henry Wrenfordsley in 1880. It was carved from jarrah wood by Lewis Hasluck, who was the grandfather of Paul Hasluck. It was fixed up and is now on display in the museum.
What's There Now?
The Old Court House is currently home to the Old Court House Law Museum. The Law Society of Western Australia runs this museum. It teaches visitors about the history of law, legal issues, and the legal profession in Western Australia.
Why is it Important?
The Old Court House is a very important historical building. It was added to the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission in October 1980. The National Trust of Australia (WA) also recognized its importance in February 1978. On February 14, 2003, it was officially placed on the permanent state heritage register. This means it's protected and recognized for its historical value.
