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 A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

in Australia. Constructed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet, the building was completed in 1892 under the supervision of Barnet's successor, Government Architect,

Walter Liberty Vernon Colonel (Australia), Colonel Walter Liberty Vernon (11 August 184617 January 1914) was an English people, English architect who migrated to Australia and pursued his career as an architect in Sydney, New South Wales. In his role as the New Sou ...

. 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 The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the executive state government of New South Wales, Australia. The government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. Th ...

. 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 ...

in 1999. The court house is located in a precinct that includes the Downing Centre, and buildings housing the

Family Court of Australia The Family Court of Australia was a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters, such as divorce applications, parenting disputes, and the division of property when a couple separate. Together with the Fed ...

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.

History

The Central Local Court House was designed by the Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon in 1892. Historical period; 1876 - 1900.

Description

Site & Forecourt

The Court has a large terraced forecourt facing south to Liverpool Street. The parcel of land on which the court sits runs north to Central Street. The terraced outdoor areas to the street frontage feature carved

sandstone Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...

balustrade A baluster () is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its ...

s and grand entrance staircase.

Court House

The Central Local Court House is a robust and highly decorated public building designed in the Federation Free Classical Style. The use of a formal symmetrical floor plan and massing with classically delivered carved sandstone details, including a coat of arms, which communicates the authoritative status of the legal system in the late 19th century. Other accommodation include Associate's accommodation, prisoner holding facilities, foyer, four majestic Court Chambers, three legal rooms, general office, Chamber Magistrate's office, and Sheriffs office. The Central Local Court House is constructed in smooth dressed

blocks. It is embellished with carved sandstone decorative elements. Much internal timber joinery and furniture remains intact. The site comprises a number of auxiliary buildings associated with the court house, including a small caretaker's cottage.Urbis, 2017, 8

Caretaker's Cottage

on the eastern boundary of the site. Two storey rendered brick structure, with two chimneys and windows and outlook directed over the central forecourt of the court house.Urbis, 2017, 5, 8

Heritage listing

As of October 2008, the Central Local Courthouse is of State historical significance as the first purpose-built police court with the State Justice system and first petty Sessions Court. The building is a fine and intact example of a classically inspired public building designed in the Federation Free Classical style by James Barnet, the last colonial architect, with construction supervised by Walter Liberty Vernon, the first government architect. The building is an example of a court that operated in association with a police station and significantly has continued to operate with attached holding cells complex to the present day. The Central Local Courthouse and Holding Cells are good examples of late nineteenth-century courthouse and prison environment that despite alterations and modification demonstrate certain design philosophies and standards of that time. The form and relationship of the Holding Cells are functional and reflect Barnet's preference to relate each building to its site and context. The design of the courthouse and its principal

façade A façade or facade (; ) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a loanword from the French language, French (), which means "frontage" or "face". In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important asp ...

connotes typical characteristics of this type of building. The buildings remain as a good and intact example of a courthouse and associated facilities designed by the Colonial Architects Office and that demonstrate the growing affluence and prosperity of the time. Central Local Courts and Holding Cells are of social significance for their on-going association with the police, Attorney General's Department, Department of Corrective Services, NSW Sherriff's office and all associated parties who have used the building for over 100 years. The building significantly continues to operate and is part of a network of courts in the local area.Perumal Murphy Alessi, ''Conservation Management Plan'', 2007 Central Local Court House, Sydney was listed on the

in April 1999.

References

Bibliography

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Attribution

External links

* at {{Sydney central business district historical attractions, state=collapsed Courthouses in Sydney Government buildings completed in 1892 1892 establishments in Australia James Barnet buildings in Sydney Walter Liberty Vernon buildings in Sydney Federation Free Classical architecture in New South Wales Government buildings in Sydney New South Wales State Heritage Register Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Sandstone buildings in Australia Liverpool Street, Sydney