Bathurst Courthouse is a heritage-listed courthouse at Russell Street, Bathurst,

Bathurst Region Bathurst Regional Council is a Local government in Australia, local government area in the Central West, New South Wales, Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Great Western Highway, Mid-Western ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. Constructed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect,

James Barnet James Johnstone Barnet, (1827 in Almericlose, Arbroath, Scotland – 16 December 1904 in Forest Lodge, Sydney, New South Wales) was the Colonial Architect for Colonial New South Wales, serving from 1862 to 1890. Early life Born the son of a ...

, the building structure was completed in 1880 under the supervision of Barnet's successor, Government Architect,

Walter Liberty Vernon Colonel Walter Liberty Vernon (11 August 184617 January 1914) 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 ...

. The property is owned by Attorney General's Department (State Government). It was added to the

New South Wales State Heritage Register The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...

on 2 April 1999.

History

The current Bathurst Court House replaced three earlier Court House buildings, the last was demolished before 1880 to make way for the forecourt to the new Court House. Designed by the Colonial Architect James Barnet, the dominant central Court Block was built as part of an overall design which incorporated the former Post and Telegraph Office wings. In 1893 tenders were called by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon for the construction of the clock tower completed in 1900.

Description

The Bathurst Court House is constructed of local brick with

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates ...

detailing. The roofs are clad in copper sheeting. It is a grand and impressive building which comprises a central building flanked on either side by wing buildings. The central building is surmounted by an octagonal domed tower with

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Objective turret, an indexable holder of multiple lenses in an optical microscope * Mi ...

s and has a two-storey

pediment Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds. A pedim ...

portico entrance. All of the rooms have external outlets into brick walled

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

s and a clerestory semi circular apse galleries on two sides. The architectural style is Victorian free classical. The exterior consists of brick, stone and copper.

Heritage listing

The Bathurst Courthouse is one of the finest Victorian Court House buildings in New South Wales. Built as part of a precinct of Victorian public buildings, it is a landmark building prominently sited in the town centre of Bathurst. The building has a lengthy association with the provision of justice in the district. Bathurst Courthouse was listed on the

on 2 April 1999.

References

Bibliography

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Attribution

External links

* at {{URL, https://www.service.nsw.gov.au, Service NSW
Courthouses in New South Wales Government buildings completed in 1880 1880 establishments in Australia James Barnet buildings Walter Liberty Vernon buildings Bathurst, New South Wales New South Wales State Heritage Register Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register