Local Government
Perth
Region
Metropolitan
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.
Location
Supreme Court Gdns, Barrack St Perth
Location Details
Other Name(s)
Francis Burt Law Centre/Legal Educ Centre
Law Society Building
Old Court House Law Museum
Construction Date
Constructed from 1836 to 1837
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 20 Dec 1985 |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Completed\Draft | 13 Mar 2001 |
|
||
| Local Heritage Survey | Adopted | 28 Mar 2023 | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
|
| Local Heritage Survey | Completed\Draft | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 13 Mar 2001 |
|
||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 11 Jun 1973 |
|
Heritage Council | |
| Register of the National Estate | Permanent | 21 Mar 1978 |
|
Heritage Council | |
Statement of Significance
The place is the oldest public building in the City. The place is historically important for its part in early life in W.A.
The place has social significance for its use as Law Court, Church, School, theatre, Concert hall and "Community Centre".
The place is rare as it is the only surviving example in Perth of Reveley's work.
Physical Description
Georgian style building with a symmetrical facade of hipped roof. Portico distinguished by classical columns.
History
The building was erected on the banks of the Swan River as a Court House between 1836-1837 at a cost of 736 pounds when many of the colony's population still lived in wattle and daub huts. The designer was the colony's first civil engineer Mr. Henry Willey Reveley.
Besides usual court proceedings, classes were held there from 1847 to 1850 as the first Perth Boys School until they moved to St Georges Terrace. Christians went to church there until St. George's' Church was completed in 1842 and the colony's first public concert was held in the Court House in 1845. In 1867, the Court House had deteriorated measurably, but it remained a court venue until 1879, after which it was used for 16 years as a government store, then again as a reserve Supreme Court. From 1905-1965 it was the Arbitration Court. It has been the offices of the Law Society of W.A. In 1987 the Francis Burt legal education centre was established in the building and it is open to the public as a museum.
Integrity/Authenticity
Medium level of integrity.
High level of authenticity.
Condition
Good
Associations
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| H W Reveley | Architect | - | - |
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| THESIS New Architecture of the Gold Boom in Western Australia: Government Buildings Under the direction of G. T.Poole 1885-1897. 1990 pp 228 by Van Bremen, I. At | |||
| 720.99441 | WES Western Towns and Buildings, (1979) pp 19, 82, 85, 193 by Pitt Morrison, M and White, J (Eds) | ||
| R 720.9941 | HER Heritage of Western Australia, (1989) pp 34-35 | ||
| Q 720.994 | COX Australian Colonial Architecture, (1978) pp 217, 218 by Cox, P and Lucas, C | ||
| 720.9941 | Western Australia: An Architectural Heritage, (1979) pp 33-48 by Williams, A E | ||
| 994.1 | STA People of Perth, (1979) pp 30, 37, 320 by Stannage, C.T | ||
| 720.9941 | COW Perth and Suburbs: Buildings Classified and Recorded by The National Trust, (1979) pp 11 by Cownie, Marie and Stewart | ||
| 1.43B | COP Heritage Places File 1.43B | ||
| 720.994 | Australia's Heritage Sketchbook, (1976) pp 312-313 by Norris, K | ||
| Q 720.994 | SMI Treasures of Australia, (1983) pp 132. Smith, R and Flower, C | ||
| 720.9941 | HAR Vanishing Ink, (1975) pp 21-22. Hare, T | ||
| Q 720.9941 | EMA Portrait of Perth, (1977) by Emanuel, Cedric and Ward, Kirwan | ||
| The Old Court House Perth, Conservation Plan (1992) prepared for the Building Management Authority of Western Australia and the Australian Heritage Commission by Ross Smith and Wendy Brady | |||
| 720.9941 | WRI Western Laandmarks, (1978) pp 14-15 by Wright, R D and Smeed, H | ||
| Q720.9 | OLD Western Heritage, (1967) pp 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 34, 35, 87 App C, F by Oldham, R and J |
State Heritage Office library entries
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7811 | St George's Cathedral vision & Perth establishment precinct. | C D Rom | 2005 |
Place Type
Individual Building or Group
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Courthouse |
| Present Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Office or Administration Bldg |
Creation Date
30 May 1989Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
28 Jun 2024Disclaimer
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.