Roma Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roma Courthouse |
|
|---|---|
Roma Courthouse, 2009
|
|
| Location | 141 McDowall Street, Roma, Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1900–1919 |
| Official name: Roma Court House and Police Buildings | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 7 August 1998 |
| Reference no. | 601285 |
| Significant period | 1900s–1920s (historical) 1900s–1930s (fabric incl bottle trees) 1900 ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | roof/ridge ventilator/s, fleche/s, trees of social, historic or special significance, cell block, police station, court house |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Queensland Court Hierarchy |
|
Federal Law Courts
|
|
Queensland Law Courts
|
The Roma Courthouse is a special building in Roma, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's important to Queensland's history. This courthouse was built in 1901 and is still used today. It's made of strong stone-like material and shows off the beautiful Federation style of building. The site also includes the Roma Police Buildings.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Roma Courthouse
The Roma Courthouse is a strong building made of stone-like material. It sits on a unique triangular block facing McDowall Street. It was built between 1900 and 1901. A famous architect named John Smith Murdoch designed it. He worked for the Queensland Works Department. The Police Buildings were finished in 1919. They served as the police station, living quarters, offices, and jail cells for the Roma area. These police buildings are simple wooden structures next to the courthouse.
Roma became an important town in the Mount Abundance area. This region was settled for farming and raising animals after explorers visited in 1846. The town of Roma was officially named in September 1862. It was the first town created in Queensland after it became a separate state in 1859. Roma got its name from Lady Bowen, the wife of Queensland's first Governor. As Roma grew, so did the need for law and order.
Many courthouses were built in Queensland between 1859 and 1900. They varied a lot in size and style. The Roma Courthouse is one of only ten stone courthouses from the 19th century that are still standing in Queensland.
The First Roma Courthouse
In 1865, a special area was set aside in Roma for court and police buildings. This area was on a hill west of the town center. The first Roma courthouse was finished here in 1866. Before that, local judges held court in rented rooms. The first courthouse was a small wooden building. It was made bigger in 1884 for Supreme Court hearings. This courthouse location helped the area become known as the West End.
This first courthouse was also where the Roma Town Council first met on August 10, 1867. A simple concrete monument with a plaque now marks this important event. It stands in front of the Police Station on McDowall Street. It was put there in 1967 to celebrate 100 years since that first meeting.
Roma grew even more when the railway arrived in the 1880s. This made it easy to move farm animals and goods to the coast. Also, the Great Artesian Basin was tapped for water in the late 1880s. This gave a new water source for cattle and sheep. With more people and more business, there was a greater need for justice. The number of court cases in Roma increased a lot during this time.
The Famous Harry Redford Trial
In 1872, a famous trial happened in the Roma Courthouse. A man named Harry Redford, also known as Captain Starlight, was accused of stealing 1,000 cattle. He supposedly drove them a very long way from near Longreach to South Australia. This was a difficult journey, as explorers Burke and Wills had died trying to cross the same land years before. Redford was tried and found not guilty in February 1873.
Building the New Roma Courthouse
The old 1866 courthouse was replaced in 1901. The new building was built a little to the east, on a new piece of land set aside for the court. This new land was created by combining an old market area with part of a road.
John Smith Murdoch designed the new Roma Courthouse. At the time, he was a key architect for the Queensland Department of Public Works. He later became the first Australian Government Architect in 1919.
The first idea for the new courthouse in 1899 was a wooden building. But the people of Roma wanted something grander. They felt a big, impressive building would show how important their town was. So, the plans were changed to use brick, which was stronger and would last longer. The foundation stone was laid on September 4, 1900, by the Mayor of Roma. The building was finished in December 1901 and cost £5964.
The new courthouse was built next to the old one. This allowed court and police work to continue during construction. After the court moved out in 1902, the old 1866 building was used for police officers' living quarters. It was finally removed from the site in 1931.
Smart Design for Justice
A main goal in designing the 1900-1901 courthouse was to make sure people moved through the building correctly. Different groups involved in court cases needed separate entrances. For example, jurors and lawyers used a different entrance than the public. Judges and the Attorney-General had a private entrance. Prisoners were brought directly from the police cells into the courtroom. There were also separate rooms for female and male witnesses. These were at the front of the courthouse so witnesses wouldn't hear other evidence before giving their own.
The Roma Courthouse also had a clever ventilation system for the hot western climate. It used special tubes to bring cool air from under the building into the courtroom. A roof ventilator pulled hot air out. Fireplaces were also included to provide warmth in winter.
In May 1931, trees were planted around the Roma Courthouse to make the grounds look nicer. This was part of a program to help people find work. In January 1934, five bottle trees, Kurrajong trees, and other native trees were added. The bottle trees at the front replaced an old fence. They match the trees planted along Heroes Avenue to remember those who served in World War I.
The inside of the courtroom was changed a lot in the 1960s. A false ceiling was added, and the lights and furniture were updated. This new ceiling covered the original high windows and domed roof. This changed how light and air moved through the room. In 1973, more changes were made to the main courtroom. Air conditioning was added in 1978.
The Roma Police Buildings
The Police Buildings are single-story wooden structures built in 1919. They include offices and living quarters for police officers. They face McDowall Street. There's also a cell block (jail) at the back of the Police Reserve.
The first police building in Roma was a lock-up (small jail). It was built at the same time as the first courthouse in 1866. In 1868, a larger jail for the whole region was built nearby. This jail closed in 1923. Now, three police houses stand on that site.
The first Roma police station was built in 1885. It was located north of the 1866 courthouse. This building provided both homes for police and office space. Before this, police stayed in wooden huts or rented rooms. The 1885 police station was replaced in 1919 with the new police station and barracks. This new building was on the site of the old 1866 courthouse. The old police station was later used as living quarters for a Senior Sergeant. It was removed or torn down in 1957.
The 1919 Police Station was designed by the office of the Queensland Government Architect. It had a special E-shape design. It was built to handle the climate and included classic architectural features. The design separated the police offices from the living areas. A covered walkway and garden connected and separated the two parts. The police living quarters were in the western building. The offices for the senior sergeant and sub-inspector were in the eastern building. The design of the living quarters showed how much better conditions were for police officers. It included a sleeping area, a billiard room, a kitchen, and a large dining area on the back verandah.
In 1962, big changes were made to the Police Buildings. New supports and outer walls were added. A new storage room was built. The police living quarters were changed to be only a police station. New toilets were added in 1970. A covered work area was added in 1978, and a tea room in 1979.
A cell block with four cells was built at the same time as the 1919 police station. These cells were used to hold prisoners before trial or before they were moved to bigger jails. In 1962, two new cells were added. This included an extra cell and a toilet for women. In another part of the building, two cells were changed into a charge room and a records room, plus a male toilet. In 1998, this building was moved on the police land to make space for a new watch house.
What the Buildings Look Like
Roma Courthouse Features
The Roma Courthouse is on a triangular piece of land. It faces south towards McDowall Street. It's a single-story building made of stone-like material. Its style is influenced by the Federation Free Style. Together with the police buildings, it forms an important area for justice.
The building has an H-shape. It includes the main entrance, the courtroom (which is the biggest part), and wings at the back. The front of the building is symmetrical. It has a round entrance area with steps. This entrance has four columns and other decorative parts. The main door is a double door with four panels. Above it is the Queensland coat of arms. Fancy notice boards are on either side of the door.
Three high windows are above the covered walkways on either side of the building. These windows have five panes and wooden panels. Air conditioning units are on the roof of the western walkway. Narrow double-hung windows face south from the building's wings. The back verandah is partly closed off with panels and windows. This verandah leads to the office spaces.
The covered walkways provide more entrances to the courtroom and other rooms. The east wing has a lobby, jury room, and a lawyer's office. The west wing has a lobby and offices for court officials. Behind the courtroom are the Judge's chamber and the Attorney General's office. No other room is as large as the central courtroom. In 1973, the courtroom was changed to create a public office for the clerk of the court. The main courtroom now has a false ceiling, and all the original furniture has been replaced. However, some original decorative details and fireplaces can still be seen in other areas.
The roof is made of rolled galvanized iron. It has five tall chimneys and seven roof ventilators of different sizes. The courtroom roof is higher than the roofs of the front and back sections. The flat roofs of the covered walkways allow light and air to enter through the high windows. The roof has a gable hipped shape.
A stone toilet block is at the back of the building. Five bottle trees, Kurrajong trees, and other native trees are in the courthouse grounds. A simple flagpole stands in front of the main entrance.
Police Buildings Features
The Police Buildings are next to the Roma Courthouse on McDowall Street. They include a wooden police station and a wooden cell block (jail). The police station has two separate single-story wooden buildings. They have corrugated iron roofs and are connected by a covered walkway. The Police Station faces south towards McDowall Street. The cell block is behind the Police Station.
The police station has a modified E-shape plan. The western building has outer walls made of weatherboard and a hipped corrugated iron roof. A verandah runs along the front of this building. It has been enclosed at each end to create two rooms. The verandah has paired posts and a timber railing. Four wooden steps lead to the main entrance door. A bay window sticks out onto the verandah. A decorative spire, called a fleche, is in the center of the roof.
The eastern building is smaller and not symmetrical. Seven wooden steps lead to a front porch with a gable roof. Double aluminum doors open to a screened verandah. This front verandah has paired posts. A decorative fleche, similar to the western building, is in the center of its roof.
Windows with simple wooden hoods are on the sides of both buildings. The covered walkway has five wooden steps. This entrance leads to the back of both buildings.
The cell block is a simple wooden building with a corrugated iron roof. A verandah is along the front of the building. It has paired posts like the police station. The building is raised on wooden stumps. Windows with iron bars on the eastern side show where the old cells were.
At the old gate entrance of the Police buildings, there is a simple concrete monument. It has a granite tablet and plaque. It says, "This plaque commemorates the first meeting of the Roma Town Council, 10 August 1867, Thomas McEwan, Mayor."
Why These Buildings Are Important
The Roma Courthouse and Police Buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 7, 1998. This means they are very important for several reasons:
- Showing Queensland's History: These buildings show how Roma grew as a town for farmers and ranchers. They also show how government services, like law and order, were set up in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The large size of the Roma Courthouse shows how important Roma was compared to other towns in western Queensland. The Police Buildings show that the police area was used for many things, like homes, offices, and holding prisoners.
- Great Examples of Design: The Roma Courthouse and Police Buildings are excellent examples of how Queensland Public Works designed courthouses and police buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Beautiful to Look At: These buildings are very beautiful and well-made. They stand out in the town and are important landmarks.
- Important to the Community: The site of the Roma Courthouse and Police Buildings has been a place for law and order in Roma since 1866. It's a key place for the community, connecting local people to how justice is handled in the Maranoa District. The monument celebrating the first town council shows how important this place is to the community.
- Connected to Important People: The Roma Courthouse is strongly linked to the famous architect John Smith Murdoch. It's a great example of his work as he developed his skills.
