Building of the Week – The Moruya Courthouse

A Magnificent building

The courthouse is one of Moruya’s older surviving buildings. It dates to 1881, at a time when the vogue was to erect substantial civic buildings. It was built at the time when Moruya had well and truly become the administrative centre for the area.

Long Description:
The Courthouse was constructed during the Public Works Department’s period of hectic and elaborate construction activity during the late 1870s-1890 period, a time during which the colony exuded a strong sense of prosperity and confidence.

It was designed by James Barnet of the Colonial Architect’s Office. The building, symmetrical in plan, consists of a central double height Court Room flanked by recessed single-storey office pavilions. It is constructed of painted brick with brick quoins. The hipped roofs are clad with concrete tiles while the front verandahs are iron-roofed and are supported by timber posts featuring decorative brackets. Windows to the upper walls of the Court Room are round-arched, while elsewhere there are double-hung sashes.

The Courthouse is approached by a short flight of stairs which leads from a grassed area set back from the pavement to the main entrance beneath the front verandah. Two more flights of stairs are towards the outer end of each of the flanking office wings.

The Courthouse has a heritage listing with the NSW Heritage & Environment Department (NSW Government) & the above information was obtained from that site.

Credit: (visit link)

Year Built: 1880

Current Use of Building: Courthouse

Level of Courts: County

Architect: James Barnet, Colonial Architects Office

Dates this building was used to house judicial proceedings: 1880 to present

Physical Address:
65 Vulcan St
Moruya NSW 2537

Hours:
9:00 – 1:00 & 2:00 – 4:00 Monday to Friday

Related Website: [Web Link]

We can certainly admire it as a stylish old building. The way it is effectively lit at night ensures that it is is a real addition to the Moruya streetscape.

There also are other beautiful buildings from this period in our historic town.

Do you know anything about the history of the courthouse or of the people who worked there. If so please add your information to the comments section below.