Darlinghurst Courthouse | |
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![]() The courthouse, in 2014 | |
Location in Sydney | |
General information | |
Status | Completed |
Type | Courthouse |
Architectural style | Old Colonial Grecian |
Location | Taylor Square, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales |
Country | Australia |
Coordinates | 33°52′49″S151°13′04″E / 33.8803743182°S 151.2178697170°E |
Groundbreaking | 1826 |
Construction started | 1835 |
Completed | 1844; 1888 |
Owner | Government of New South Wales |
Landlord | Department of Communities and Justice |
Technical details | |
Material | Sandstone; slate; internal timber joinery; marble |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) |
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Architecture firm | Colonial Architect of New South Wales |
Website | |
Darlinghurst Court House | |
Official name | Darlinghurst Courthouse |
Type | Built |
Criteria | a., b., c., d., e., f., g. |
Designated | 2 April 1999 |
Reference no. | 00792 |
[1] |
The Darlinghurst Courthouse is a heritage-listed courthouse building located adjacent to Taylor Square on Oxford Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Constructed in the Old Colonial Grecian style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis, the building structure was completed in 1880 under the supervision of Lewis's successor, James Barnet. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [2]
The courthouse is predominately used for sittings of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Darlinghurst Courthouse and residence was originally designed by the Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis. Work commenced in 1835 but was not completed until 1844. The construction of a new courthouse and gaol had been a priority of the incoming Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke, who was concerned by the need to march prisoners through the city from the gaol on George Street to the courthouse on King Street. [3]
The foundations for Darlinghurst Courthouse were laid by convict work gangs and construction began in 1836. Court proceedings were held in the building as early as 1842, despite the unfinished state of the building. Construction of a new gaol in Darlinghurst began in the 1820s and was ready for occupation in the early 1840s. The courthouse was a milestone building in New South Wales, being specifically designed to suit its purpose and impart authority and the power of the law. [3]
Darlinghurst Courthouse was subsequently altered and extended by successive Colonial and Government Architects. This began with Edmund Blacket, who supervised the repair to the roof in the 1850s which was in danger of collapse. [3]
Colonial Architect James Barnet designed major flanking court room pavilion additions to the building in 1884-88. Major repairs were undertaken to the original wing of the courthouse in 1901. The entire roof was replaced and changes were made to the façade. The drawings for these alterations were signed by George McRae in the Government Architect's Office. [3]
In 1903, Darlinghurst Courthouse was selected as one of the sites for the newly created High Court of Australia following Federation. In 1907, accommodation was provided for the expansion of the High Court. Alterations included the addition of a new single-storey wing to house five new rooms. [3]
An increase in the number of High Court Justices led to the construction of a second storey on this new wing. Numerous alterations took place throughout the twentieth century to cope with increasing court proceedings and expansions of the High Court. In 1913-14 a second expansion took place to further accommodate the High Court and eventually a new high court was added to the complex in 1922. [3]
Alterations, maintenance and expansions continued to take place throughout the twentieth century. A major extension on the eastern side of the courthouse was completed c. 1963. The extension was designed by the Government Architect's Office and includes two courtrooms and offices. The High Court was relocated to Canberra in 1980, following completion of a purpose-built building. [3]
Darlinghurst Courthouse and Residence is a massive, heavily designed Old Colonial Grecian style public building. It communicates its civic presence through its form. The symmetrical building uses elements of the Greek temple form, having a fluted stone Doric columned portico supporting a pedimented gable entrance to the central court (Court 5), flanked by colonnaded wings which stand forward of the robust front elevations. The courthouse and residence are constructed in smooth dressed sandstone with a slate roof, timber floors and joinery and a marble tiled vestibule. [4] [3]
The interiors of the courthouse are highly intact, with original furniture and fittings intact in all courtrooms and most offices. The courthouse has been added to continuously throughout its 170-year history, but retains a strong, coherent form to the main frontage on Oxford Street. Additions have generally maintained the qualities of the original courthouse, with high quality materials and fixtures used throughout. [3]
The courthouse is set back from the street in grounds with a curved driveway and scattered plantings. An iron palisade fence with a sandstone base bounds the courthouse grounds and heavy sandstone and iron entrance gates are located to the north and south. The rear boundary of the grounds is defined by the wall of Darlinghurst Gaol. The prison dock is located between the courthouse building and the gaol wall. [3]
The courthouse complex includes seven court rooms (supreme courts and district courts), jury rooms, judge and associate chambers, sheriff's office, courtkeeper's residence, court reporters office, cells, corrective services, witness rooms, and kitchens for jury meals. [3]
The Darlinghurst Court House and residence is the finest, and only erudite Old Colonial Grecian public building complex surviving in Australia. Commenced in the 1830s, it has a long and continual association with the provision of law and order along with the neighbouring Darlinghurst Gaol complex. The building is prominently sited at Taylor Square. [2]
The Court House, designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis and built between 1837 and 1844, is the first purpose designed court house to be built in NSW. The pavilions on either side were designed by James Barnet around 1886. The extension facing Victoria Street was designed by the Government Architect's Office and completed c.1963. [5] [2]
Darlinghurst Courthouse was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [2]
Darlinghurst is an inner-city suburb in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district (CBD) and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is often colloquially referred to as "Darlo".
The Darlinghurst Gaol is a former Australian prison located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales. The site is bordered by Darlinghurst Road, Burton and Forbes streets, with entrances on Forbes and Burton Streets. The heritage-listed building, predominantly designed by New South Wales Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis, was closed in 1914 and has subsequently been repurposed to house the National Art School.
James Johnstone Barnet, was the Colonial Architect for Colonial New South Wales, serving from 1862 to 1890.
The New South Wales Government Architect, an appointed officer of the Government of New South Wales, serves as the General Manager of the Government Architect's Office (GAO), a multi-disciplinary consultancy operating on commercial principles providing architecture, design, and engineering services, that is an agency of the government within NSW Public Works.
Courthouses in New South Wales were designed by the Colonial Architect, later known as the Government Architect of New South Wales, Australia.
The Wentworth Gaol is a heritage-listed former gaol and school building and now museum and old wares shop located at 112 Beverley Street, Wentworth, in the Wentworth Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Barnet and built from 1879 to 1881 by Whitcombe Brothers, Hay. It is also known as the Old Wentworth Gaol. The property is owned by Department of Primary Industries - Western Lands Commissioner, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 October 2016.
Australian non-residential architectural styles are a set of Australian architectural styles that apply to buildings used for purposes other than residence and have been around only since the first colonial government buildings of early European settlement of Australia in 1788.
Colonel Walter Liberty Vernon was an English architect who migrated to Australia and pursued his career as an architect in Sydney, New South Wales. In his role as the New South Wales Government Architect he is noted for designing multiple government buildings, many of which are extant with listings on national and state heritage registers.
The Old Dubbo Gaol is a heritage-listed former gaol and now museum and tourist attraction at 90 Macquarie Street, Dubbo in the Dubbo Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The gaol was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office and was built from 1847 to 1945 by James Atkinson Jnr (1862–63) and William Bonython Moffatt. The gaol is also known as the Dubbo Jail and the Dubbo Gaol. The building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 26 March 2004. The building was the second gaol in Dubbo, replacing lockups built in 1847 and 1862.
Mortimer William Lewis was an English-born architect, surveyor and public servant who migrated to Australia and became Colonial Architect in the colony of New South Wales from 1835 to 1849. Lewis was responsible for designing and overseeing many government buildings in Sydney and rural New South Wales, many of which are heritage listed.
The Justice and Police Museum is a heritage-listed former water police station, offices and courthouse and now justice and police museum located at 4-8 Phillip Street on the corner of Albert Street, in the Sydney central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Edmund Blacket, Alexander Dawson and James Barnet and built from 1854 to 1886. It is also known as Police Station & Law Courts (former) and Traffic Court. The property is owned by the Department of Justice, a department of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Central Local Court House or Police Law Courts or Central Police Court is a heritage-listed building located at 98 Liverpool Street, in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales in Australia. Constructed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet, the building structure was completed in 1892 under the supervision of Barnet's successor, Government Architect, Walter Liberty Vernon. It is also known as Sydney Central Local Court House, Police Law Courts and Central Police Court. The property is owned by the Department of Justice, a department of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The court house is located in a precinct that includes the Downing Centre, and buildings housing the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney. Adjacent to the court house is Brickfield Place, a brick paved courtyard with seating and planter boxes, constructed in 1892, assessed as a good example of urban design for public open space.
Goulburn Court House is a heritage-listed courthouse at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet and his assistant Edward Rumsey. It was built from 1885 to 1887 by David Jones. The property is owned by the New South Wales Department of Justice. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Old Police Station and Courthouse is a heritage-listed former police station and courthouse located at 74 Binnia Street, Coolah, in the Warrumbungle Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by the Colonial Architect of New South Wales, James Barnet, and built from 1878 to 1880 by Henry S. Winter. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Bundarra Police Station and Courthouse is a heritage-listed former police station and courthouse located at Oliver Street, Bundarra, in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Barnet and built from 1869 to 1870 by Alfred Doorey. The property is owned by Bundarra Community Purposes Reserve Trust. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Narrabri Gaol and Residence is a heritage-listed former gaol and now museum at Bowen Street, Narrabri, Narrabri Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The building was designed by James Barnet and built from 1880 to 1881 by J. Conlon. The property is owned by Narrabri Shire Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Berry Courthouse is a heritage-listed former courthouse and now function venue at 58 Victoria Street, Berry, in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Barnet and built from 1890 to 1891 by Antonio and Peter Ettinghausen. The property is owned by Shoalhaven City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 July 2005.
The Greenway Wing of the Supreme Court of New South Wales is a heritage-listed courthouse located at the junction of King and Elizabeth Streets, in the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Francis Greenway, Standish Lawrence Harris, and James Barnet and built from 1820 to 1828. It is also known as Sydney Supreme Court House (Old Court House) and Old Court House. The property is owned by the Department of Justice and Attorney General, departments of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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